Objective Approximately 20% of the world's population displays allergy symptoms (rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma) in response to common substances such as pollen, mite, and pet dander. Specific immunotherapy (SIT) is the only treatment that attacks the root of allergic disease rather than merely alleviating its symptoms. Many researchers believe that this approach may one daybed used during the first years of life to block the progression of respiratory allergy. However, the allergen extracts currently used for immunotherapy are crude, ill-defined preparations. As result, the outcome of SIT can be unpredictable and carries with it the risk of side effects and serious adverse reactions. Obviously SIT can never be used for preventive vaccination purposes in children and will only be used to treat the most serious allergy cases until these risks are eliminated. This emphasizes the need to search for novel forms of safer immunotherapytreatments. This project proposes to develop new, well-defined and standardized immunotherapeutics with reduced anaphylactic potential for the treatment of four common allergies: grass pollen, tree pollen, and house dust mite and cat dander. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicinepneumologyasthmamedical and health sciencesclinical medicineallergologymedical and health sciencesbasic medicineimmunologyimmunotherapy Programme(s) FP5-LIFE QUALITY - Specific Programme for research, technological development and demonstration on "Quality of life and management of living resources", 1998-2002 Topic(s) 1.1.1.-4. - Key action Environment and Health Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme EAW - Exploratory awards Coordinator S.A. BIOPHADY N.V. EU contribution No data Address 86, Antoine Nifsstraat 1070 BRUXELLES Belgium See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all CITEQ B.V. Netherlands EU contribution No data Address Turftorenstraat 12 9712 BP GRONINGEN See on map Total cost No data