UK Biopharma joins Allergy race with good Phase II results for Hayfever

allergy therapeutics birch pollen rhinitis biotech uk

Allergy Therapeutics has gotten positive results for its phase II trial for birch pollen allergy – another win for their Pollinex platform.

allergy_therapeutics_birch_pollinex_quattroBased near Brighton (UK), Allergy Therapeutics has around 420 employees and has a market cap of €1.96M (£1.53M).

Its focus is novel immunotherapies, with new technology for improving delivery and adjuvants – agents that modulate the immune response to the main components of the vaccine.

Now, Allergy Therapeutics has released positive topline results from its Phase II trial (PQBirch204) to study its candidate in patients with allergic rhinitis caused by birch pollen – which affects up to 30% of the population worldwide.

allergy_therapeutics_birch_rhinitis_pollinex
Fig. 1: Inflammation caused by allergic rhinitis.

The study met its primary endpoint, which was establishing a dose for the next phase III trial. The therapy has also shown a good safety profile.

The therapy is a ultra-short therapy (a type of therapy also targeted by Swiss Anergis – which is also in Phase II). It was developed with Pollinex Quattro, an immunotherapy platform that combines different technology from Allergy Therapeutics.

Pollinex Quattro is based on modified allergens (allergoids) – molecules that desensitize the immune system to the allergen, without causing an allergic reaction themselves.

immunotherapy_antibody_allergy_therapeutics_birch
General mechanism of immunotherapies. Allergen introduced to the body is processed by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), which activate regulatory cells (Tregs), decrease processes of allergic reaction (IgE production and allergy-promoting Th2 cells) and lead to production of blocking antibodies for the allergen. (Credit: NIAID)

Improved allergens are then combined with a micro crystalline tyrosine (MCT) drug delivery method with suspensions of an aminoacid (tyrosine). This mix of tyrosine with the active allergen allows a slow release of the therapy – making it less overwhelming and more effective.

This method is also combined with Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) adjuvant. This adjuvant helps with the activity of helper T-cells – which are fundamental in adapting immune response.

Earlier formulations of Pollinex were already used to bring two products to the market, for allergies to tree pollens and grass.

Novel immunotherapies for allergies are certainly popular, and Biotech stars like Circassia and DBV Technologies. 


 

Figure 1 Credit: Bruce Blaus (2014) Blausen gallery. Wikiversity Journal of Medicine (doi: 10.15347/wjm/2014.010)

Explore other topics: Allergy TherapeuticsUnited Kingdom

Newsletter Signup - Under Article

"*" indicates required fields

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest biotech news!

Name*
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Labiotech.eu

Suggested Articles

Show More