GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Release: Flonase Allergy Relief Partners With The Weather Channel To Help Allergy Sufferers Plan Ahead, Know When Weather May Affect Their Nasal Allergy Symptoms

Parsippany, N.J., Feb. 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Roughly 50 million people in the United States suffer from nasal allergies. [i] As the first and only over-the-counter (OTC) nasal spray indicated for relief of nasal and eye-related allergy symptoms, [ii] [iii] Flonase® Allergy Relief is changing everything for allergy sufferers. It helps to block six of the key allergic substances that cause an allergic reaction as compared to anti-histamines, which block only one*. Flonase Allergy Relief outperforms the #1 allergy pill**, and unlike allergy pills, Flonase Allergy Relief works at the source.[iv] It is available at full prescription strength on shelves at drug, grocery and mass retailers nationwide.

The weather can play a significant role when it comes to seasonal allergies. Various weather extremes and changing patterns may have an impact on a wide variety of allergens including pollen and mold, and in turn, allergy symptoms. A recent survey commissioned by the makers of Flonase Allergy Relief reveals that respondents believe the weather can affect allergies more than ever before. Nearly all respondents (88%) suggest that the weather affects their allergy symptoms, and six out of ten (59%) cite weather-related influences as the main cause of their allergies.[v] [vi] In addition, three-quarters (76%) of respondents said that they are interested in new tools to help them manage their allergies. [vii]

The makers of Flonase understand the impact nasal allergies have on people's lives and are dedicated to helping allergy sufferers not only better understand how to treat their allergies, but how to manage what triggers them. That's why Flonase® Allergy Relief has partnered with The Weather Channel® to provide new, innovative tools and resources to help educate people about how changing weather patterns can affect allergies and how they can better manage their allergy symptoms.

"This partnership has enabled allergy and weather experts to come together to develop and launch the first-of-its-kind 'Allergy Tracker,'" said Amardeep Kahlon, Consumer Marketing Director, GlaxoSmithKline. "This comprehensive tool coupled with the availability of Flonase Allergy Relief over-the-counter, gives allergy sufferers the resources they need to be greater than their allergies." 

While many allergy sufferers are familiar with pollen as an allergy trigger, the new Allergy Tracker goes beyond pollen data to help allergy sufferers access weather analysis. Available at www.weather.com/allergy and on The Weather Channel app, the tool includes an outdoor allergy tracker that shows levels and maps for mold, various types of pollen, and a breathing index. It also offers a Three-Day Outlook to forecast how overall conditions are expected to change from day to day. An indoor allergy meter measures conditions that can trigger or increase allergens in the air, such as current temperature, thermostat temperature, outdoor humidity, and whether your air conditioner is on, resulting in conditions that are too wet or too dry.

"Working with Flonase, we've put together the best information about weather conditions and the most relevant allergy-specific details to create an allergy tracker on weather.com that will truly help allergy sufferers deal with symptoms," said Paul Walsh, meteorologist and vice president of weather analytics, The Weather Company. "Using this combination of proprietary and public information, this tool will aid consumers with pinpointing allergen irritants in their detected locations, which will help them better prepare for their days."

The Allergy Tracker combines proprietary weather data (forecasted and reported), as well as information from public and private agencies and medical experts to measure and rate conditions. The information from The Weather Channel Allergy Tracker that shows current daily levels for the three allergy indexes, as well as the Three-Day Outlook.

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT

Changing Weather and Allergies
Airborne allergens, such as pollen or mold spores in the air, are directly influenced by changes in the weather.^[viii] Many studies have indicated that pollen season typically defined by regionally specific tree pollen is beginning earlier in the year.[ix]

In addition to spring arriving sooner, recent scientific studies also suggest that climate-related temperature changes are expected to increase the potency of airborne allergens. Such changes increase the concentration of pollen in the air, the length of the allergy season and the strength of airborne allergens, and associated increases in allergy symptoms.[x]

Climate change may allow certain allergen-producing plant species to move into new areas, and wind-blown dust, carrying pollens and molds from outside of the United States, could expose people to allergens they had not previously contacted. Exposure to more potent concentrations of pollen and mold may also make current non-sufferers more likely to develop allergic symptoms.[xi]

The Weather Channel® Allergy Tracker Tool
The weather.com Allergy Tracker utilizes a combination of proprietary weather information (forecasted and reported), information from public/private agencies, and consultation with medical experts to measure and rate conditions. A user's location is automatically detected by the Allergy Tracker tool when they use The Weather Channel app, or when they navigate from other pages on weather.com, and also has features for users to change locations by typing in a city or zip code. Additional elements include national maps, a social poll, Flonase Twitter feed, and editorial content to further engage users.

To access the Allergy Tracker, visit www.weather.com/allergy or use The Weather Channel app. Full product information can be found at www.flonase.com. Follow Flonase on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flonase and on Twitter @Flonase for timely tips, news and announcements.

About Flonase Allergy Relief
Flonase® Allergy Relief (fluticasone propionate 50 mcg spray) is an approved over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for hay fever symptoms including nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose and itchy, watery eyes.

About GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world's largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette® and NicoDerm®CQ®, as well as many medicine cabinet staples.

About The Weather Company: Where the World Gets its Weather
Through The Weather Channel (weather.com) and Weather Underground (wunderground.com) brands, The Weather Company provides millions of people every day with the world's best weather forecasts, content and data, connecting with them through television, online, mobile and tablet screens, as well as third-party publishing partners via API. Through WSI, the company delivers superior professional weather services for the media, aviation and energy sectors. The Weather Company is owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and the private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, visit www.theweathercompany.com.

* Mechanism vs. most OTC allergy pills. Flonase acts on multiple inflammatory substances (histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, tryptases, chemokines and leukotrienes). The exact number and precise mechanism are unknown.
** Total nasal symptoms vs. leading allergy pill.

[i] American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology: Allergy facts. Available at http://www.acaai.org/allergist/news/Pages/Allergy_Facts.aspx. Accessed July 2014.
[ii] Greiner AN, Hellings PW, Rotiroti, G, and Scadding, GK. Allergic Rhinitis. The Lancet. 2011; 378(9809): 2112-2122.
[iii] Wallace DV, Dykewicz MS, Bernstein DI, Blessing-Moore, J. et al. The Diagnosis and Management of Rhinitis: An Updated Practice Parameter. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2008; 122(2 SUPPL.): S1-S84.
[iv] Derendorf H and Meltzer EO. Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology of Intranasal Corticosteroids: Clinical and Therapeutic Implications. Euro Allergy Clin ImmunJ. 2008: 63(10): 1292-1300. (referenced in CSS).
[v] Flonase® Allergy Relief Survey conducted by KRC Research on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline between January 19-21, 2015.  Method: Online survey among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,012 adults in the U.S. age 18 and over.
[vi] "Weather-related" triggers include pollen, change of seasons, and the daily weather. "Non-weather-related" triggers include dust or mold, pets or animals, and something else.  
[vii] Flonase® Allergy Relief Survey conducted by KRC Research on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline between January 19-21, 2015.  Method: Online survey among a demographically representative U.S. sample of 1,012 adults in the U.S. age 18 and over.
[viii] Allergies, Asthma and Pollen. National Institute of Health Web site. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/aboutmedlineplus.html Published August 27, 2012. Updated February 3, 2013. Accessed April 21, 2014.
[ix] Sheffield PE, Weinberger KR, Kinney PL. Climate change, aeroallergens and pediatric allergic disease.  Mt Sinai J of Med. January 2011; 78(1) 78-84.
[x] EPA. Research & Development, Allergies Getting Worse? EPA.gov. http://www.epa.gov/research/gems/scinews_aeroallergens.htm. Updated February 2011. Accessed April 2014.
[xi] EPA. Research & Development, Allergies Getting Worse? EPA.gov. http://www.epa.gov/research/gems/scinews_aeroallergens.htm. Updated February 2011. Accessed April 2014.

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SOURCE Flonase