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Pollen Vaccine

Hay fever sufferers rejoice! Trials are currently underway to evaluate the effectiveness of a vaccine against grass pollen. If successful, relief could be available in as little as four years.

Hay fever symptoms are caused when antibodies known as Immunoglobulin E (IgE) over-react to pollen. In the past, this oversensitivity has been treated by injecting small doses of the allergen over a period of several years, allowing the body to build up a natural immunity.

The new vaccine would offer faster relief, and would likely involve a series of four injections over the course of a few months.

The shot combines portions of a pollen molecule with a protein from hepatitis B. When the IgE antibodies are activated, the protein activates additional antibodies to block them, preventing an allergic response.

For information: Biomay AG, Vienna Competence Center, Lazarettgasse 19, 1090 Vienna, Austria; phone: +43-(0)1-7966296-100; fax: +43-(0)1-7966296-111; Web site: www.biomay.com

Daniel Burrus' Top Twenty Technology-Driven Trends for 2014