Stallergenes inaugurates world's largest pharmaceutical allergen production unit

French biopharmaceutical company Stallergenes has officially opened its new Euro 20m (£16m) pharmaceutical production unit near Paris.

The new plant will manufacture desensitisation treatments primarily for markets in Europe and North America. It will incorporate the production of the active substance for the Oralair Grasses tablet and increase the production capacity for Staloral.

Staloral is a named patient product sublingual solution of allergen extracts and is indicated in allergic rhino-conjunctivitis caused by pollen, dust mites, mould and dander. It is available in the majority of European countries.

Oralair Grasses is a fast-dissolving sublingual desensitisation tablet indicated in allergic rhino-conjunctivitis caused by grass pollen for patients with moderate to severe symptoms unsatisfied with or inadequately controlled by symptomatic treatments.

In June 2008, Oralair( Grasses was granted a marketing authorisation in adults in Germany and a paediatric extension of its indications is expected by the end of the year. Stallergenes then plans to launch a mutual recognition procedure in the near future, with a view to marketing it in other European countries in both indications.

"This new production unit will help the company break into the tough US market and increase its production capacity tenfold," said Albert Saporta, chairman and ceo of Stallergenes.