Overview

• In mouse models, intranasal administration of the XA19 antibody targeted mugwort pollen and led to reductions in ear swelling, nose rubbing, lung inflammation, and inflammatory cytokine levels.
• This is the first instance of a pollen-specific monoclonal antibody applied directly to the nasal lining to protect both the upper respiratory tract and lung function.
• Hay fever currently affects about 40% of Europeans and contributes to roughly 100 million lost school and workdays each year, while extended pollen seasons often overcome existing treatments.
• Researchers are now humanizing XA19 and conducting further preclinical safety and efficacy studies ahead of first-in-human trials.
• Pending successful preclinical results, clinical testing is expected to begin in two to three years with market availability projected five to seven years out.