The house dust mite allergy market is estimated to be valued at USD 2.6 Bn in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 5.3 Bn by 2031, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.6% from 2024 to 2031. The market is expected to showcase steady growth over the forecast period owing to rising incidences of dust mite induced allergies across both developing and developed regions worldwide.

Market Driver - Increasing Global Incidence of House Dust Mite Allergies

House dust mite allergies have been on the rise across the globe in recent decades. Rising temperatures and humidity levels allow dust mites to multiply rapidly throughout the year instead of just during certain seasons. This has led to perennial exposure and increased sensitivity among people.

Changes in lifestyle and living environments have also played a role. People now spend more time indoors due to sedentary jobs and indoor activities. While this is beneficial to reduce power bills, it also prevents proper ventilation and maintains humidity levels ideal for dust mites. This has increased the concentration of dust mites and allergens inside homes.

Stressful urban lifestyles too have weakened immunity for some individuals. Furthermore, greater awareness among public and medical professionals has led to higher diagnosis rates in recent times. People are more conscious about symptoms and able to detect dust mite allergies early on.

All these macro factors have contributed to significant growth worldwide in the number of patients with house dust mite allergy. This growing patient pool is fueling increased demand for effective treatments and drugs. Pharmaceutical companies are responding to this driver by enhancing research and development of advanced therapies.

Market Driver - Development of Patient-friendly Immunotherapies like SLIT

Pharmaceutical firms are continuously striving to develop novel immunotherapy solutions that offer convenience to patients. One such innovation is sublingual immunotherapy or SLIT. SLIT has gained popularity due to its comfort and ease of use at home settings. Patients can self-administer the allergen tablets or drops daily without any medical supervision. This enables continuous therapy and makes it more acceptable for long-term compliance.

With these advantages, SLIT has emerged as a preferred choice especially for pediatric dust mite allergy patients. Parents appreciate the painless nature and flexibility of allowing children to receive treatment at home or school. SLIT medication is also affordable and frees patients from regularly visiting doctors for injections. The convenience factor is a strong driver of adherence to prescribed treatment course.

Biotech firms continue enhancing SLIT further through novel drug delivery systems. Fast-dissolving strips and orally disintegrating tablets are now available that take seconds to administer. Such innovations will further strengthen patient acceptance of SLIT. As immunotherapies like SLIT gain ground, they will expand the treatable population and drive continued market evolution in coming years.

Market Challenge - Expensive Immunotherapy Treatments

One of the key challenges currently faced in the house dust mite allergy market is the expensive immunotherapy treatments available. Immunotherapy, also known as allergy shots or desensitization, is currently the only treatment that can cure house dust mite allergies by modifying the immune system's response.

However, the treatment process requires patients to undergo regular injections, typically once a week for around 3-5 years. This makes immunotherapy a very lengthy and expensive treatment option, potentially costing thousands of dollars over the full course of treatment. The high costs put immunotherapy out of reach for many patients suffering from house dust mite allergies.

The long duration of treatment also poses compliance challenges as patients have to diligently follow the treatment schedule for years. drug manufacturers need to focus on developing more affordable immunotherapy treatments or alternatives that can help address this market challenge.

Market Opportunity - Expanding Healthcare Infrastructure in Asia-Pacific

The growing healthcare infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region presents a major opportunity for the house dust mite allergy market. Countries like China, India, and others in Southeast Asia are witnessing rapid economic development which is helping expand access to healthcare. Rising incomes have boosted healthcare expenditure capabilities in the region.

At the same time, growing pollution and dust mite infestation levels attributed to urbanization are contributing to a rise in allergic conditions like house dust mite allergy. This is increasing the patient population that needs treatment. The enhanced healthcare infrastructure in Asia-Pacific makes it easier for patients to obtain diagnosis and treatment. It also allows global manufacturers to enter these emerging markets.

Drug companies can leverage the strengthening healthcare systems in the region to drive higher sales volumes and market growth for house dust mite allergy drugs and therapies over the coming years.

House dust mite allergy is typically treated via a step-wise approach depending on the severity of symptoms. For mild intermittent symptoms, over-the-counter antihistamines such as loratadine (Claritin) and cetirizine (Zyrtec) are often recommended on an as-needed basis.

For mild persistent symptoms, prescribers may upgrade treatment to prescription strength antihistamines like desloratadine (Clarinex) or fexofenadine (Allegra). Intranasal corticosteroids are another first-line option to control nasal inflammation. Prescription medications commonly used include fluticasone propionate (Flonase) and mometasone furoate (Nasonex).

Patients with moderate-severe persistent symptoms typically require combination therapy. Prescribers commonly add leukotriene receptor antagonists such as montelukast (Singulair) to an intranasal corticosteroid. For more severe, uncontrolled cases, prescribers may consider subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy as a long-term maintenance treatment. The builds gradual tolerance to dust mite allergens. Brands include Oralair and Grazax.

The severity and type of a patient's symptoms, along with risk factors like asthma, may impact medication selection. Prescribers also consider ease of use, insurance coverage, and patient preferences and budgets when choosing among available allergy drugs. Monitoring response to treatment and adjusting as needed is also important for long-term management.

House dust mite allergy can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe based on symptoms. For mild intermittent symptoms, over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines like cetirizine or loratadine are preferred.

In moderate to severe cases with persistent symptoms, prescription strength antihistamines are recommended. Second generation antihistamines like fexofenadine, desloratadine and levocetirizine are more effective with less sedative effects. Among these, Allegra and Xyzal are preferred brands due to long duration of action of 24 hours.

For inadequately controlled or severe persistent symptoms, a combination of an antihistamine with a nasal corticosteroid spray is prescribed. Common prescription combinations include Reactine with Flonase, Clarinex D 12 HR, and Aerius C. Fluticasone propionate (Flonase) is the most preferred nasal corticosteroid due to its high safety profile.

If symptoms persist after 2-4 weeks, subcutaneous or sublingual immunotherapy (allergy shots/drops) may be considered. This aims to desensitize the immune system over 3-5 years. The most common immunotherapy options used are Grastek and Odactra tablets which contain dust mite allergens.

Severe persistent asthma induced by dust mite allergy may require controller inhalers like low dose ICS (fluticasone), ICS-LABA (Symbicort) or long-acting bronchodilators like montelukast (Singulair). Controller therapy aims to reduce exacerbations along with other treatment options.

Product innovation - Introducing novel products to directly target the root cause of dust mite allergies has been an effective strategy. For example, in 2015, ALK released Grazax, an oral immunotherapy tablet made from house dust mite allergens.

Acquisitions - Consolidating related businesses has helped players expand their portfolios. In 2019, GSK acquired US-based gene therapy biotech Therachon for $143M to gain rights to a drug in development for dust mite allergy. This strengthened GSK's R&D pipeline and allowed it to target multiple treatment options beyond just symptom relief.

Awareness campaigns - Increasing education about dust mite allergies and available solutions has driven demand. For example, between 2010-2015, Stallergenes Greer ran the "yourAllergy" global program, educating 200K people via websites and social media. This likely contributed to sales of their sublingual immunotherapy tablets like Oralair rising by 29% in 2015.

Partnering with allergy associations - Leveraging credibility and reach of clinical associations is an effective strategy. For example, ALK partners with national allergy societies worldwide to jointly conduct seminars on diagnosis and management of dust mite allergies for physicians. This helps validate their products and speed adoption among allergists.

Insights, By Treatment: Effective Remedies Drive Pharmacotherapy's High Usage

In terms of treatment, pharmacotherapy is expected to account for 61.7% share of the house dust mite allergy market in 2024, owning to its effectiveness in alleviating symptoms. Pharmacotherapy encompasses several drug classes that target specific pathways contributing to allergy symptoms.

Antihistamines are widely used due to their dual ability to reduce sneezing, itching, and runny nose by blocking allergic histamine release. Nasal corticosteroids are also popular for their potent anti-inflammatory action, making them highly effective at reducing nasal congestion.

For moderate-severe cases, leukotriene receptor antagonists that inhibit leukotriene production are commonly prescribed. They provide extra relief from symptoms like asthma. The accessibility of these oral and inhaled drugs combined with proven clinical track records have made Pharmacotherapy the preferred first-line treatment option over other segmental alternatives.

Insights, By Diagnosis: Skin Prick Tests Enable Quick Diagnosis

In terms of diagnosis, skin prick tests are projected to hold 50.8% share of the house dust mite allergy market in 2024, owing to their convenience and accuracy. Skin prick tests are valued as they can identify allergens in 10-15 minutes with just a small amount of allergen extract and the patient's skin. This immediacy helps physicians rapidly determine allergens responsible for symptoms and customize treatment accordingly.

It is also less invasive than blood tests. The simplicity and low cost of skin prick tests compared to other diagnostic tools like specific IgE blood tests or patch testing have made it popular among patients and healthcare providers alike for initial screenings and management of established allergies.

Insights, By Allergy Type: Allergic Rhinitis Wide Prevalence Boosts Respiratory Allergies

In terms of allergy type, respiratory allergies contribute the highest share of the house dust mite allergy market owing to the vast prevalence of allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, affects over 500 million people globally annually, accounting for more than half of respiratory allergy cases. Sneezing, congestion, and runny nose caused by allergic rhinitis can greatly diminish quality of life.

The growing environmental and lifestyle risk factors that contribute to rising allergic rhinitis incidence have proportionally increased the respiratory allergy patient pool. This massive patient population base consistently seeks treatments each allergy season, making respiratory allergies the dominant segment.

• Global Prevalence: House dust mite allergy affects approximately 10-20% of the global population, making it one of the most common allergic conditions worldwide.
• Market Trends: There is a noticeable shift towards sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) due to its convenience over traditional subcutaneous methods, leading to higher patient compliance and better outcomes.
• House dust mite allergy is one of the most common indoor aeroallergens, affecting a large percentage of individuals with allergic rhinitis and asthma.
• Immunotherapy remains a long-term treatment option for severe allergy sufferers but has seen slower uptake due to cost and patient compliance issues.
• Increased Research Activities: There is a growing focus on developing hypoallergenic vaccines and novel immunotherapies for house dust mite allergies, which could revolutionize treatment approaches.

The major players operating in the house dust mite allergy market include ALK-Abelló A/S, Stallergenes Greer, HAL Allergy Group, Allergy Therapeutics, Anergis SA, T-Balance Therapeutics, Worg Pharmaceuticals, Advagene Biopharma Co., Ltd., Immunotek SL, Tolerogenics S.à.r.l., and Foresee Pharmaceuticals.

• In October 2023, T-Balance Therapeutics announced a new phase of clinical trials for its immunomodulatory therapy aimed at reducing allergy severity. The study promises to enhance treatment effectiveness and lower adverse reactions. The company has been actively working on tregalizumab, a monoclonal antibody designed to activate regulatory T cells (Tregs). This therapy has shown promise in treating various immune-mediated conditions, including allergic asthma.
• In June 2023, Worg Pharmaceuticals introduced an innovative allergen formulation targeting long-term desensitization, which shows potential in reducing allergic reactions to dust mites. Worg Pharmaceuticals is actively involved in the development of treatments for allergies, including those for house dust mites. Their work includes advanced immunotherapies aimed at addressing allergic diseases using platforms like PCFiT, which focuses on creating more effective allergen immunotherapies.
• In June 2021, ALK-Abelló A/S received FDA approval for its house dust mite sublingual immunotherapy tablet, ODACTRA, for use in the United States. ODACTRA is designed for the treatment of house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic rhinitis, with or without conjunctivitis, for patients aged 12 to 65 years. This approval expanded the treatment options for patients suffering from house dust mite allergies, allowing them to undergo sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) rather than relying solely on traditional methods like injections.
• In April 2021, Stallergenes Greer announced positive results from a Phase III clinical trial evaluating its new sublingual immunotherapy tablet, STAGR320, for treating house dust mite (HDM)-induced allergic rhinitis. The trial met its primary efficacy endpoint, demonstrating significant symptom improvement in patients compared to a placebo. Over 1,600 patients across multiple countries participated in this large-scale, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The successful outcomes set the stage for Stallergenes Greer to pursue further market registrations for the treatment in Europe and other regions​.

• By Treatment
  • Pharmacotherapy
    • Antihistamines
    • Decongestants
    • Nasal Corticosteroids
    • Leukotriene Receptor Antagonists
  • Immunotherapy
    • Subcutaneous Immunotherapy (SCIT)
    • Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT)
    • Oral Immunotherapy
• By Diagnosis
  • Skin Prick Tests
  • Specific IgE Blood Tests
  • Patch Tests
• By Allergy Type
  • Respiratory Allergies
    • Allergic Rhinitis
    • Allergic Asthma
  • Dermatological Allergies
    • Atopic Dermatitis
    • Eczema