Next generation immunotherapy for the treatment of food allergy

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Traditional thinking about the pathology of allergy has centered on the role of allergen-specific IgE in sensitising mast cells which then degranulate to release inflammatory mediators when they come into contact with allergen. However, upstream of these acute effector mechanisms, CD4+ allergen-specific T cells play a pivotal role in regulating allergic disease and controlling allergic responses. The balance of proinflammatory CD4+ cells (e.g. of the Th2 phenotype) to protective CD4+ cells (e.g. of the Treg phenotype) is a pivotal determinant of allergic status and changes dynamically in response to external factors. A therapeutic opportunity therefore exists to redirect the allergen-specific T cell population back towards a healthy balance and restore tolerance to allergens.  

Aravax applies proprietary technology and know-how to identify the specific amino acid sequences from allergens which are critical for recognition by human T cells. Allergy-specific therapeutics can be designed comprising mixtures of peptides that represent these sequences, but do not contain the allergens or extracts that trigger allergic inflammation and acute reactions. Repeated exposure to such peptides in a non-inflammatory context has been shown to shift the balance of allergen-specific T cells towards the healthy phenotype. Over time, these T cell changes drive a reduction in allergic sensitisation and reacquisition of tolerance, akin to the natural acquisition of tolerance in children who “grow out of their allergy”.  

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