title: Allergen immunotherapy for birch pollen-allergic patients: recent advances.
abstract: As of today, allergen immunotherapy is performed with aqueous natural allergen extracts. Recombinant allergen vaccines are not yet commercially available, although they could provide patients with well-defined and highly consistent drug substances. As Bet v 1 is the major allergen involved in birch pollen allergy, with more than 95% of patients sensitized to this allergen, pharmaceutical-grade recombinant Bet v 1-based vaccines were produced and clinically tested. Herein, we compare the clinical results and modes of action of treatments based on either a birch pollen extract or recombinant Bet v 1 expressed as hypoallergenic or natural-like molecules. We also discuss the future of allergen immunotherapy with improved drugs intended for birch pollen-allergic patients suffering from rhinoconjunctivitis.
authors.affiliation: Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moingeon
authors.affiliation: Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Véronique Bordas-Le
authors.initials: VB
authors.lastname: Floch
authors.affiliation: Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Sabi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Airouche
authors.affiliation: Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baron-Bodo
authors.affiliation: Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nony
authors.affiliation: Stallergenes Greer, Research Department, 6 rue Alexis de Tocqueville, 92183 Antony Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mascarell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052179:Antigens, Plant / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029662:Betula / Q000276:immunology*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003233:Conjunctivitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D052179:Antigens, Plant; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C061312:Bet v 1 allergen, Betula
keywords: birch pollen; immunotherapy; recombinant Bet v 1