French company DBV-Technologies is set to make waves in the world of immunotherapy, with its revolutionary research into allergy patches.
The 20th and 21st centuries have seen allergies take centre stage as a health issue. Frequently-occuring allergies include foods such as egg, milk and peanuts.
DBV Technologies is now leading the way in combatting certain allergies through the Viaskin Patch (http://www.dbv-technologies.com/en/viaskin-technology/viaskin-patch).
As the name suggests, this epicutaneous patch is applied to the skin. The principal elements of the patch include an electrostatically-charged backing and an adhesive crown.
The concept that underpins this epicutaneous patch is actually quite a simple one. An antigen is sprayed onto the patch using electrospray technology. This creates an even layer of dry antigens.Unlike in an injection, the antigens are solubilized and pass directly into the body’s most tolerogenic cells, the Langerhans cells, without entering the bloodstream. This gradually ‘tones down’ the body’s reaction to these antigens.
As a peanut allergy treatment, the patch even has the potential to save lives.