Betuvax, a company within the Artgen Biotech Group (MOEX: ABIO), is conducting registration preclinical studies of a treatment against cat allergy (BTX-301).
The studies are being conducted at the Institute of Translational Medicine and Biotechnology of Sechenov University. Toxicity, immunogenicity, and anti-allergic effect studies will continue until the end of December 2025. Thereafter, the Company plans to submit a dossier to obtain permission from the Ministry of Health to conduct clinical studies of the treatment involving patients.
More than 30% of the world's population suffers from allergies. Allergies arise from an inappropriate reaction of the body to the entry of potentially harmless substances. Currently, there are no treatments for cat allergy in the world. Existing methods aim to reduce the inflammatory reaction, as well as allergen-specific immunotherapy (ASIT), which can provide a long-term remission. These methods are limited to symptomatic therapy or elimination and avoidance of the allergen source.
"Betuvax is developing a fundamentally new approach for the treatment of allergies," comments Artur Isaev, an investor and co-founder of Betuvax. "Our goal, through rational antigen design, is to switch the type of immune response from a state of high hypersensitivity to a more appropriate and specific type of immunity, which should prevent a pathological reaction to the allergen. If successful with cat allergy, the Company plans to create treatments for other types of allergies as well."
"Every fourth Russian suffers from allergies, and 80% do not know how to treat it properly," says Anna Vakhrusheva, Director of Betuvax. "According to studies, sensitization to cat allergens among children in Russia with allergy symptoms is about 61%. Approximately 20% of people prone to allergies have a reaction to cats. Animal allergies are often severe: they begin with allergic rhinitis and can end with asthma attacks. To date, there is no way to treat patients with such a diagnosis. The emergence of treatments for cat allergy is an urgent need for these patients."
Betuvax specializes in the rational design of antigens for subunit vaccines aimed at treating allergic diseases and preventing infectious and oncological diseases. Using modern bioinformatics and protein engineering methods, the Company's developers analyze and introduce precise modifications into the structure of antigens, creating safer and more stable solutions for significant medical needs.