Product Line or Service

Allergene’s mission is to develop novel anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic drugs that will prevent the secretion of inflammatory mediators from mast cells by a unique mechanism. This development is based on an innovative concept of inhibiting the signal transduction pathways in mast cells, thereby blocking the onset of the secretory process. As such, Allergene drugs will inhibit the allergic reaction at a very early stage and also prevent the whole range of delayed inflammatory reactions.

Allergene products have a wide range of applications for the treatment of very many allergic and non-allergic inflammatory diseases. The unique mechanism provides a combination of specificity and potency that results in high efficacy without the risk of appreciable side effects, as is the case in the currently used corticosteroids. 

Allergene has developed cell permeable molecules, based on a unique importation technology that enables the blocking of the intracellular targets involved in various signal transduction pathways. This method for promoting importation of molecules into cells, both in vitro and in vivo, will provide the basis for Allergene future developments.

Technology/Proprietary Rights

Allergene is presenting a novel concept of treating mast cell-dependent allergic and inflammatory reactions, combined with the ability to block specific signal transduction pathways.

Allergene has submitted a patent application claiming the chemical compositions, properties, and potential uses of Allergene products. This application is being processed towards global issuing. 

Additional patent applications will be submitted claiming the additional molecules and/or uses that will evolve during the progress of our R&D program. 

Market Opportunities

Allergic diseases are among the most common diseases encountered by physicians in their clinical practice. They affect about 30% of the world population, and this number is in continuous and rapid increase. The overall European product market for treatment of asthma and allergy was estimated to reach the figure of US$3.99 billion in 1995, and is forecast to reach US$6.12 billion by the end of 2002. The sales of prescription drugs for allergy in the USA are steadily increasing by an annual rate of 20%, whereas other medications are increasing by an annual rate of only 10%.

Major potential markets include asthma ($7-10 Billion global market), rhinitis ($3 Billion global market), allergic eye disease ($612 Million global market), and urticaria ($500 Million US market). 

Marketing/Sales and Distribution

Allergene intends entering into corporate alliances with leading pharmaceutical companies, and is also seeking strategic partners to collaborate in product development and marketing.

Manufacturing

Allergene Ltd. is an R&D oriented Biopharmaceutical Company. The company will concentrate in R&D activities and formulation development. Manufacturing of Allergene drugs will be conducted by outsourcing. 

Competition

None of the currently available drugs provides a satisfactory solution to allergic and inflammatory disorders. Most therapies provide only a partial relief of the symptoms. Some, like corticosteroids suffer from lack of specificity, inducing sever side effects. 
The world allergy market is a multi-billion market ruled by the major pharmaceutical companies, such as Schering-Plough, Hoechst-Marion-Roussel and others. Allergene does not see these companies as competitors but as potential partners. Allergene will cooperate in the future with one of the major players, which will eventually produce and market Allergene’s final compounds.

Status of Development

Allergene has proved the feasibility of its lead compound by demonstrating its ability to inhibit the allergic reaction in a skin test model in rats. Animal models for additional allergic disorders are currently being studied in order to define the first potential application. In parallel, acute toxicity studies have been initiated. The company’s R&D plan includes chemical and pharmaceutical development of the leading molecule, and toxicology and related regulatory studies, in preparation for clinical trials in humans for the first defined application. Development of additional applications will follow, concurrently with the development of new anti-allergic / anti-inflammatory molecules