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Allergies could soon be cured within 15 minutes
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Allergy can be called the scourge of our time. Millions of people around the world suffer from this disease. Such allergens as animal hair, pollen, food, plants, and even ordinary household dust can disrupt the rhythm of life and cause a lot of unpleasant sensations. At the same time, not everyone's symptoms are limited to coughing, itching, and sneezing. The most critical course of an allergic reaction is anaphylactic shock, which can even lead to death.
The immune defense responds to the introduction of allergens by increasing the synthesis of immunoglobulin E - these antibodies are produced by the cellular structures of the spleen, stomach, tonsils, etc. The molecules stimulate a number of bioactive substances (for example, histamine), which provoke the appearance of typical allergy symptoms - these are the most common signs, such as rhinitis, conjunctivitis, swelling, itching, etc.
Antiallergic medications act on such bioactive substances or on the receptors of such substances. Therefore, these medications are often called antihistamines. Their effect can be called incomplete, since they only eliminate the unpleasant signs of allergy. Scientists wondered: what if we try to involve immunoglobulin E directly in the process? Perhaps this will help prevent the development of the allergic process, and the symptoms will not appear at all?
Researchers at the University of Giessen (Germany) have discovered a unique mechanism by which antibodies can prevent the development of an allergic process in most patients suffering from allergies.
After numerous experiments, scientists have managed to create antibodies that almost instantly block the function of all immunoglobulins E that are in an active state. The substance 026-sdab does not allow immunoglobulin E to attach to individual receptors CD23 and FceRI, which completely blocks further development of the allergic process, which dies out before it even begins.
Today, the new antibody has been successfully tested in a scientific laboratory. For the experiment, scientists used the blood of a patient suffering from an allergic reaction to birch pollen and poisonous insect secretions. As a result, the newly developed agent helped to reduce the content of immunoglobulin E in the blood plasma by almost 70% within 15 minutes after administration.
In addition to the speed of action and effectiveness, the new drug has a number of other advantages:
- production of the drug does not require large capital investments;
- the drug can be produced both as an injection solution and as tablets or inhalation aerosols;
- The new drug can be used to prevent and treat common allergies, as well as bronchial asthma and – probably – contact dermatitis.
It has not yet been announced when the scientists plan to introduce the new drug into practice.
Details of the research project are presented in the journal Nature Communications.
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