Long-time CIU sufferer looking for updates on Rhapsido availability in Germany / EU
Hi everyone,
quick intro: I'm M33, diagnosed with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) back in 2007. Back then, I went through the absolute ringer with doctors—GPs, TCM, homeopathy, elimination diets, and every antihistamine under the sun. I was even part of one of the early Xolair clinical trials at LMU Munich around 2010–2012, but it didn't work for me. Eventually, I just accepted my fate, and after a few years, the hives subsided to a manageable level.
Unfortunately, they flared up again about three years ago. I've been back in treatment with urticaria specialists at the Uniklinik in Frankfurt. We retried various antihistamines and Xolair, but again, no luck. Currently, I'm on a combination of Cyclosporine (300 mg daily), Rupatadine (40 mg daily), and Montelukast (20 mg daily). This regimen manages to reduce my hives by about 60% to 80%.
Because of this, I've been closely following the press releases for Rhapsido. I have high hopes that it can achieve what nothing else has: near-total symptom relief. From what I understand, Rhapsido received EU approval in April of this year. However, when I reached out to several pharmacies and pharmaceutical wholesalers in Germany, none of them were able to order it yet. My doctor promised to prescribe it as soon as it's available, but no one seems to know when that will actually be.
I'm curious if anyone else in Germany or the EU is in a similar boat, waiting on Rhapsido, or if anyone has more inside intel on the actual release timeline.
Stay strong, everyone!