We use cookies to improve your experience. By continuing to browse this site, you accept our cookie policy.×
Skip main navigation
Aging Health
Bioelectronics in Medicine
Biomarkers in Medicine
Breast Cancer Management
CNS Oncology
Colorectal Cancer
Concussion
Epigenomics
Future Cardiology
Future Medicine AI
Future Microbiology
Future Neurology
Future Oncology
Future Rare Diseases
Future Virology
Hepatic Oncology
HIV Therapy
Immunotherapy
International Journal of Endocrine Oncology
International Journal of Hematologic Oncology
Journal of 3D Printing in Medicine
Lung Cancer Management
Melanoma Management
Nanomedicine
Neurodegenerative Disease Management
Pain Management
Pediatric Health
Personalized Medicine
Pharmacogenomics
Regenerative Medicine

How bilastine is used to treat allergic rhinitis and urticaria in children

    Pablo Rodríguez del Río

    Allergy Department, Hospital Infantil Niño Jesús, Madrid, 28009, Spain

    ,
    Fernando Rodríguez Fernández

    Allergy Service, Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla, Santander, 39008, Spain

    ,
    Esther Ballester Asensio

    Pediatric Pulmonology & Allergy Unit, Dr Peset University Hospital, Valencia, 46017, Spain

    Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, 46101, Spain

    &
    Miguel Tortajada-Girbés

    *Author for correspondence:

    E-mail Address: tortajadamig@gmail.com

    Pediatric Pulmonology & Allergy Unit, Dr Peset University Hospital, Valencia, 46017, Spain

    Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, 46101, Spain

    IVI Foundation, Valencia, 46026, Spain

    Published Online:https://doi.org/10.2217/imt-2021-0251

    Management guidelines for allergic rhinitis and urticaria recommend oral second-generation antihistamines as first-line treatment. The efficacy and safety of bilastine, the newest nonsedating second-generation antihistamine, are well established in adolescents/adults with these allergic conditions. The bilastine development program for pediatric use (2–<12 years) followed EMA-authorized processes. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic simulation and modeling and a pharmacokinetic study were conducted to identify and confirm the pediatric dose (10 mg/day). A Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study was performed to confirm the safety of bilastine 10 mg/day in children. In this article, evidence is reviewed for use of bilastine in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or urticaria. Several cases are presented which demonstrate its role in routine clinical practice.

    Papers of special note have been highlighted as: • of interest

    References

    • 1. Passali D, Cingi C, Staffa P, Passali F, Muluk NB, Bellussi ML. The International Study of the Allergic Rhinitis Survey: outcomes from 4 geographical regions. Asia Pac. Allergy 8(1), e7 (2018).
    • 2. Chong SN, Chew FT. Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis and associated risk factors in Asia. World Allergy Organ. J. 11(1), 17 (2018).
    • 3. Fricke J, Ávila G, Keller T et al. Prevalence of chronic urticaria in children and adults across the globe: systematic review with meta-analysis. Allergy 75(2), 423–432 (2020). • Data from more than 86 million participants in population-based studies was used to systematically evaluate and summarize the prevalence of chronic urticaria globally.
    • 4. Meltzer EO. Quality of life in adults and children with allergic rhinitis. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 108(Suppl. 1), S45–S53 (2001).
    • 5. Walker S, Khan-Wasti S, Fletcher M, Cullinan P, Harris J, Sheikh A. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is associated with a detrimental effect on examination performance in United Kingdom teenagers: case–control study. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 120(2), 381–387 (2007).
    • 6. Sánchez-Borges M, Martin BL, Muraro AM et al. The importance of allergic disease in public health: an iCAALL statement. World Allergy Organ J. 11(1), 8 (2018).
    • 7. Aït-Khaled N, Pearce N, Anderson HR et al. Global map of the prevalence of symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis in children: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three. Allergy 64(1), 123–148 (2009).
    • 8. Mallol J, Crane J, von Mutius E et al. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) Phase Three: a global synthesis. Allergol. Immunopathol. (Madr.) 41(2), 73–85 (2013).
    • 9. Netchiporouk E, Sasseville D, Moreau L, Habel Y, Rahme E, Ben-Shoshan M. Evaluating comorbidities, natural history, and predictors of early resolution in a cohort of children with chronic urticaria. JAMA Dermatol. 153(12), 1236–1242 (2017).
    • 10. Bousquet J, Anto JM, Bachert C et al. Allergic rhinitis. Nat. Rev. Dis. Primers. 6(1), 95 (2020).
    • 11. Cibella F, Ferrante G, Cuttitta G et al. The burden of rhinitis and rhinoconjunctivitis in adolescents. Allergy Asthma Immunol. Res. 7(1), 44–50 (2015).
    • 12. Bousquet J, Khaltaev N, Cruz AA et al. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) 2008 update (in collaboration with the World Health Organization, GA(2)LEN and AllerGen). Allergy 63(Suppl. 86), 8–160 (2008).
    • 13. Brożek JL, Bousquet J, Agache I et al. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) guidelines-2016 revision. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 140(4), 950–958 (2017).
    • 14. Papadopoulos NG, Bernstein JA, Demoly P et al. Phenotypes and endotypes of rhinitis and their impact on management: a PRACTALL report. Allergy 70(5), 474–494 (2015).
    • 15. Roberts G, Xatzipsalti M, Borrego LM et al. Paediatric rhinitis: position paper of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Allergy 68(9), 1102–1116 (2013).
    • 16. Zuberbier T, Aberer W, Asero R et al. The EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline for the definition, classification, diagnosis and management of urticaria. Allergy 73(7), 1393–1414 (2018).
    • 17. Simons FE, Simons KJ. Histamine and H1-antihistamines: celebrating a century of progress. J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 128(6), 1139–1150 (2011).
    • 18. Church MK, Maurer M, Simons FE et al. Risk of first-generation H(1)-antihistamines: a GA(2)LEN position paper. Allergy 65(4), 459–466 (2010).
    • 19. Fein MN, Fischer DA, O'Keefe AW, Sussman GL. CSACI position statement: newer generation H1-antihistamines are safer than first-generation H1-antihistamines and should be the first-line antihistamines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis and urticaria. Allergy Asthma Clin. Immunol. 15, 61 (2019).
    • 20. Chang J, Cattelan L, Ben-Shoshan M, Le M, Netchiporouk E. Management of pediatric chronic spontaneous urticaria: a review of current evidence and guidelines. J. Asthma Allergy 14, 187–199 (2021). • A recent and practical evidence-based guide to the management of chronic spontaneous urticaria in children.
    • 21. Jensen LL, Rømsing J, Dalhoff K. A Danish survey of antihistamine use and poisoning patterns. Basic Clin. Pharmacol. Toxicol. 120(1), 64–70 (2017).
    • 22. Church DS, Church MK. Pharmacology of antihistamines. World Allergy Organ. J. 4(Suppl. 3), S22–S27 (2011).
    • 23. Papadopoulos NG, Zuberbier T. The safety and tolerability profile of bilastine for chronic urticaria in children. Clin. Transl. Allergy 9, 55 (2019).
    • 24. Coimbra J, Campo C, Labeaga L et al. Lack of clinical relevance of bilastine-food pharmacokinetic interaction assessed by inhibition of histamine-induced wheal and flare response in healthy volunteers. Presented at: Skin Allergy Meeting. Munich, Germany, 4–6 April 2019.
    • 25. Corcóstegui R, Labeaga L, Innerárity A, Berisa A, Orjales A. Preclinical pharmacology of bilastine, a new selective histamine H1 receptor antagonist: receptor selectivity and in vitro antihistaminic activity. Drugs R D 6(6), 371–384 (2005).
    • 26. Corcóstegui R, Labeaga L, Innerárity A, Berisa A, Orjales A. In vivo pharmacological characterisation of bilastine, a potent and selective histamine H1 receptor antagonist. Drugs R D 7(4), 219–231 (2006).
    • 27. Horak F, Zieglmayer P, Zieglmayer R, Lemell P. The effects of bilastine compared with cetirizine, fexofenadine, and placebo on allergen-induced nasal and ocular symptoms in patients exposed to aeroallergen in the Vienna Challenge Chamber. Inflamm. Res. 59(5), 391–398 (2010).
    • 28. Jauregizar N, de la Fuente L, Lucero ML, Sologuren A, Leal N, Rodríguez M. Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling of the antihistaminic (H1) effect of bilastine. Clin. Pharmacokinet. 48(8), 543–554 (2009).
    • 29. Lucero ML, Gonzalo A, Mumford R, Betanzos M, Alejandro A. An overview of bilastine metabolism during preclinical investigations. Drug Chem. Toxicol. 35(Suppl. 1), 18–24 (2012).
    • 30. Church MK, Labeaga L. Bilastine: a new H1 -antihistamine with an optimal profile for updosing in urticaria. J. Eur. Acad. Dermatol. Venereol. 31(9), 1447–1452 (2017).
    • 31. Kawauchi H, Yanai K, Wang DY, Itahashi K, Okubo K. Antihistamines for allergic rhinitis treatment from the viewpoint of nonsedative properties. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 20(1), E213 (2019).
    • 32. Farré M, Pérez-Mañá C, Papaseit E et al. Bilastine vs. hydroxyzine: occupation of brain histamine H1-receptors evaluated by positron emission tomography in healthy volunteers. Br. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 78(5), 970–980 (2014).
    • 33. Kuna P, Bachert C, Nowacki Z et al. Efficacy and safety of bilastine 20 mg compared with cetirizine 10 mg and placebo for the symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis: a randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study. Clin. Exp. Allergy 39(9), 1338–1347 (2009).
    • 34. Bachert C, Kuna P, Sanquer F et al. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of bilastine 20 mg vs desloratadine 5 mg in seasonal allergic rhinitis patients. Allergy 64(1), 158–165 (2009).
    • 35. Okubo K, Gotoh M, Asako M et al. Efficacy and safety of bilastine in Japanese patients with perennial allergic rhinitis: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase III study. Allergol. Int. 66(1), 97–105 (2017).
    • 36. Okubo K, Gotoh M, Togawa M, Saito A, Ohashi Y. Long-term safety and efficacy of bilastine following up to 12 weeks or 52 weeks of treatment in Japanese patients with allergic rhinitis: results of an open-label trial. Auris Nasus Larynx 44(3), 294–301 (2017).
    • 37. Church MK. Comparative inhibition by bilastine and cetirizine of histamine-induced wheal and flare responses in humans. Inflamm. Res. 60(12), 1107–1112 (2011).
    • 38. Antonijoan R, Coimbra J, García-Gea C et al. Comparative efficacy of bilastine, desloratadine and rupatadine in the suppression of wheal and flare response induced by intradermal histamine in healthy volunteers. Curr. Med. Res. Opin. 33(1), 129–136 (2017).
    • 39. Zuberbier T, Oanta A, Bogacka E et al. Bilastine International Working Group. Comparison of the efficacy and safety of bilastine 20 mg vs levocetirizine 5 mg for the treatment of chronic idiopathic urticaria: a multi-centre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. Allergy 65(4), 516–528 (2010).
    • 40. Hide M, Yagami A, Togawa M, Saito A, Furue M. Efficacy and safety of bilastine in Japanese patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase II/III study. Allergol. Int. 66(2), 317–325 (2017).
    • 41. Yagami A, Furue M, Togawa M, Saito A, Hide M. One-year safety and efficacy study of bilastine treatment in Japanese patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria or pruritus associated with skin diseases. J. Dermatol. 44(4), 375–385 (2017).
    • 42. Serra E, Campo C, Novák Z et al. Efficacy and safety of bilastine in reducing pruritus in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria and other skin diseases: an exploratory study. J. Dermatolog. Treat. 31(3), 270–278 (2020).
    • 43. De Cock RFW, Piana C, Krekels EHJ, Danhof M, Allegaert K, Knibbe CAJ. The role of population PK-PD modelling in paediatric clinical research. Eur. J. Clin. Pharmacol. 67(Suppl. 1), S5–S16 (2011).
    • 44. World Health Organization. Promoting safety of medicines for children (2007) https://www.who.int/medicines/publications/essentialmedicines/Promotion_safe_med_childrens.pdf?ua=1
    • 45. European Medicines Agency. Paediatric Regulation. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory/overview/paediatric-medicines/paediatric-regulation
    • 46. Vozmediano V, Sologuren A, Lukas JC, Leal N, Rodriguez M. Model informed pediatric development applied to bilastine: ontogenic PK model development, dose selection for first time in children and PK study design. Pharm. Res. 34(12), 2720–2734 (2017).
    • 47. Lam J, Baello S, Iqbal M et al. The ontogeny of P-glycoprotein in the developing human blood-brain barrier: implication for opioid toxicity in neonates. Pediatr. Res. 78(4), 417–421 (2015).
    • 48. Vozmediano V, Lukas JC, Encinas E et al. Model-informed pediatric development applied to bilastine: analysis of the clinical PK data and confirmation of the dose selected for the target population. Eur. J. Pharm. Sci. 128, 180–192 (2019). • Pharmacokinetic model-informed confirmation of the 10 mg dose of bilastine selected for use in children as part of the EMA approved pediatric investigation plan.
    • 49. Novák Z, Yáñez A, Kiss I et al. Safety and tolerability of bilastine 10 mg administered for 12 weeks in children with allergic diseases. Pediatr. Allergy Immunol. 27(5), 493–498 (2016). • Large Phase III placebo-controlled clinical study demonstrates the safety and tolerability of bilastine 10 mg in children with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and chronic urticaria as part of the EMA approved Pediatric Investigation Plan.
    • 50. Rodríguez M, Vozmediano V, García-Bea A et al. Pharmacokinetics and safety of bilastine in children aged 6 to 11 years with allergic rhinoconjunctivitis or chronic urticaria. Eur. J. Pediatr. 179(5), 801–805 (2020).
    • 51. Bilastine 10 mg orodispersible tablets. Summary of product characteristics. https://mri.cts-mrp.eu/human/downloads/DE_H_2300_001_FinalSPC.pdf
    • 52. Ivanovska V, Rademaker CM, van Dijk L, Mantel-Teeuwisse AK. Pediatric drug formulations: a review of challenges and progress. Pediatrics 134(2), 361–372 (2014).
    • 53. Orubu ESF, Tuleu C. Medicines for children: flexible solid oral formulations. Bull. World Health Organ. 95(3), 238–240 (2017).
    • 54. Gerrard SE, Walsh J, Bowers N, Salunke S, Hershenson S. Innovations in pediatric drug formulations and administration technologies for low resource settings. Pharmaceutics 11(10), 518 (2019).
    • 55. Sádaba B, Azanza JR, García-Bea A, Labeaga L, Campo C, Valiente R. Bioequivalence evaluation of three pediatric oral formulations of bilastine in healthy subjects: results from a randomized, open label, crossover study. Eur. J. Drug Metab. Pharmacokinet. 45(2), 265–272 (2020). • Evidence of the interchangeability between oral bilastine pediatric formulations (oral solution and orodispersible tablet).
    • 56. Yin HS, Dreyer BP, Moreira HA et al. Liquid medication dosing errors in children: role of provider counseling strategies. Acad. Pediatr. 14(3), 262–270 (2014).
    • 57. Krause K, Spohr A, Zuberbier T, Church MK, Maurer M. Up-dosing with bilastine results in improved effectiveness in cold contact urticaria. Allergy 68(7), 921–928 (2013).
    • 58. Weller K, Church MK, Hawro T et al. Updosing of bilastine is effective in moderate to severe chronic spontaneous urticaria: a real-life study. Allergy 73(10), 2073–2075 (2018).
    • 59. Sarti L, Barni S, Giovannini M, Liccioli G, Novembre E, Mori F. Efficacy and tolerability of the updosing of second-generation non-sedating H1 antihistamines in children with chronic spontaneous urticaria. Pediatr. Allergy Immunol. 32(1), 153–160 (2021).
    • 60. Wolthers OD. Bilastine: a new nonsedating oral H1 antihistamine for treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and urticaria. Biomed. Res. Int. 2013, 626837 (2013).