DBV Technologies announced the publication of a set of experimental data in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) demonstrating that early treatment with Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT®) using Viaskin® may induce protection from sensitization to other allergens. The pre-clinical data demonstrate that treatment with EPIT® could prevent further allergies by influencing the natural history of allergy via a Treg-dependent mechanism. This protective response induced by EPIT® is sustained after the end of treatment.

In a murine model sensitized to a food allergen, EPIT® through the use of Viaskin ® can treat the first allergy, while protecting against anaphylaxis caused by sensitization to other food or respiratory allergens. The experiment shows that EPIT-induced Tregs significantly modified the humoral and cellular response, reduced Th2 cytokines, decreased eosinophilic esophagus infiltration and suppressed airway hyper responsiveness (AHR) and anaphylaxis. Epigenetic results are also provided suggesting that Milk-EPIT enhanced the methylation level of the promoter region of GATA-3, which may explain the prevention of sensitization to peanut and house dust mites, as well as the sustained protective response that was observed.

As a conclusion, three major outcomes have emerged from this study: Demonstration of the protective effect of EPIT® to the sensitization to further allergens. Validation of the key role for regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the protection against further sensitizations. Determination of a sustained protective response induced by EPIT® after the end of treatment.