Stallergenes and DBV Technologies collaborate in birch pollen allergy research

French allergy specialists Stallergenes (Euronext Paris: GENP) and DBV Technologies (Euronext Paris: DBV), creator of Viaskin for the treatment of allergies, have entered into an R&D agreement for the treatment of birch allergy.

This collaboration is the first agreement following their previously announced collaboration focused on developing innovative treatments for respiratory allergies. This partnership combines Stallergenes’ world class respiratory allergy know-how with DBV’s novel Viaskin epicutaneous delivery technology that modulates the immune response to allergens.

Birch pollen-allergic patients commonly have seasonal allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. The majority of Birch pollenallergic patients also develop allergies to certain plant foods, also known as oral allergy syndrome (OAS), due to a cross reaction between birch pollen allergens and food proteins with similar structures. This syndrome can manifest itself in itching or swelling of the lips, tongue and throat. Occasionally, the reaction is more severe. DBV’s Viaskin technology, which has shown excellent safety in clinical setting into dangerous and life-threatening allergies, may therefore be particularly well-suited to address the Birch-sensitized population, the companies say.