CE18 - Innovation biomédicale

Development of a therapeutic vaccine for allergic diseases – AllergyVACS

Submission summary

The incidence of allergies has dramatically increased over the last three decades in industrialized countries, with an estimate of 15% to 30% allergic patients in Europe and the US. Moreover, the World Health Organization now estimates that half of the people will develop allergies by 2050. Among all allergies, allergic asthma and food allergy are major public health problems now each affecting more than 220 million people worldwide. Despite this, there is still no efficient long-term therapy to treat allergies. Immunoglobulin-E (IgE) antibodies play a key role in allergic reactions. Indeed, diagnostic of allergies is largely based on the detection of allergen-specific IgE antibodies. IgE bind to their high-affinity receptor FceRI mainly expressed on the surface of mast cells and basophils. Upon contact with an allergen in allergic patients, such allergen is recognized by IgE on the surface of mast cells and basophils, leading to activation of these cells and release of mediators, among which histamine, responsible for allergy symptoms. Production of IgE is mainly regulated by two cytokines: interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-13. Thus, IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 represent key therapeutic targets to treat allergy.

The main objective of the project ‘AllergyVACS’ is to develop anti-IL-4, anti-IL-13 and anti-IgE vaccines called kinoids, and provide a proof-of-concept of the safety and efficiency of these therapeutic vaccines. These vaccines should induce polyclonal responses against IgE, IL-4 or IL-13. We will perform pharmacologic studies in animal models to demonstrate the safety and immunogenicity of the kinoids. The therapeutic benefit of vaccination with IL-4, IL-13 or IgE kinoids will be assessed using clinically-relevant models of asthma and food allergy in order to select the best vaccine candidate. We expect to have identified a safe and efficient vaccine by the end of this grant, which would meet all criteria to be ready for initiation of clinical trials.

Project coordination

Laurent Reber (Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan)

The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.

Partner

NEOVACS
IP INSTITUT PASTEUR
Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan

Help of the ANR 702,834 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project: December 2018 - 48 Months

Useful links

Explorez notre base de projets financés

 

 

ANR makes available its datasets on funded projects, click here to find more.

Sign up for the latest news:
Subscribe to our newsletter