Researchers in the laboratories of Bial

The pharmaceutical company Bial, based in Bilbao and specialising in the production of vaccines and research into allergology, is taking part in FAST (Food Allergy Specific ImmunoTherapy), a European project that aims to develop two vaccinations against severe food allergies, in particular allergy to the rosaceae family of fruit (peaches, cherries, plums, pears, apples, etc.) and allergy to fish.

There are as yet no viable vaccines for these two severe food allergies, which do not diminish with age and which can even result in fatal complications.

The project is financed by the European Union 7th Framework Programme and has a budget of 4 million euros. It will be carried out by a consortium made up of 15 partners from 10 countries, among which are the Academic Medical Centre of Amsterdam, the National University Hospital of Copenhagen and the San Marcos Clinical Hospital of Madrid.

FAST’s strategy consists of designing two biotechnological vaccines based on recombinant allergens, and it will cover all aspects from the basic research for obtaining the hypoallergenic versions right up to the end of the clinical trials in Phase II (efficiency exploration). The project is due to run until 2014, and its results, the biotechnological vaccines, could replace the food extracts habitually in use at the moment, which are effective but which can have side effects (anaphylactic shock).

In the case of the vaccine for curing allergies to fruit in the rosaceae family, the main allergenic protein (LTP or Lipid transfer protein) will be used for sublingual administration. In the case of the second vaccine, the main allergenic protein, called parvalbumin and present in many types of fish, particularly in cod, will be administered subcutaneously.

Bial is a pharmaceutical company in the Bial group, which has its headquarters in Oporto. It develops, produces and sells ethical pharmaceutical products, with special emphasis on the therapeutical areas of cardiology, immunology and the central nervous system.