DC4U’s GlycoDCTM targeting technology can be applied to achieve restoring tolerance in allergic patients. This can be achieved via induction of regulatory T-cells by glycan-modification of allergens or peptides derived from these allergens.
Allergen-specific immunotherapy is considered one of the most promising new developments in the search to cure allergy. The therapy consists of multiple injections of increasing doses of the allergen. Drawbacks of current immunotherapy are the necessity of long-term treatment using high doses of allergens and a risk for anaphylactic reactions. Besides, immunotherapy does not work for all indications. For example, it is not effective enough for asthma patients, convicting them to non-specific pharmacotherapies that only control disease symptoms.
Recent studies in animal allergy models imply that the presence and action of regulatory T cells (Treg) is required for successful immunotherapy. It is suggested that increasing Treg numbers or their activity could improve the therapeutic effects. The potential application of DC4U’s GlycoDCTM targeting technology using inhibitory glycans that target DC and instruct them to induce Tregs, will start the development of novel agents for allergy treatment and improvement of existing therapeutics.
Glycan conjugated disease specific antigens may effectively be used for the treatment of different types of allergies including tree pollen, grass pollen and dust mite excretion allergens, and will enable a whole new approach in anti-allergy product development. To exploit the potential for DC4U’s GlycoDCTM targeting technology in the development of anti-allergy products, we offer business and partnering options to life science companies actively involved in allergy research and development.