In February 2024, Finnish biopharmaceutical company Desentum announced that it had raised €12 million in a funding round organised by investment company Springvest Oyj in January 2024. Desentum shared that it will use most of this to continue clinical development of a birch pollen allergy vaccine and to complete preclinical testing of a vaccine for peanut allergies.
Fighting allergies
Desentum is focused on the development of novel immunotherapeutic hypoallergens, which are biotechnologically produced, modified allergen proteins that are “aimed for improving the efficiency of allergen immunotherapy while also reducing the time required for treatment”. The lead product is a birch pollen candidate, DM101PX, and is being evaluated in a clinical study in Canada. Further candidates include hypoallergens targeted for treatment of peanut and grass pollen allergies.
DM-101PX
Desentum describes DM-101PX as an “investigational medicinal product” intended for the immunotherapeutic treatment of birch pollen allergy. The active ingredient is DM-101, a recombinant birch pollen allergen modified to “reduce its allergenicity” without compromising on immunological properties. The treatment has a “novel formulation” that has been “optimised to support the controlled release of the active ingredient after subcutaneous injection”. This approach should “significantly reduce” the number of injections that are needed.
The proceeds from the funding round will be used to take this vaccine through the next clinical study to assess optimal dosing and duration of protection. CEO of Desentum, Pekka Mattila, commented that “even though the study is still ongoing, we have already seen very promising preliminary results” on both “safety” and “reduction of allergic symptoms”.
“We are evaluating the safety and tolerability of 10 weekly doses of DM-101PX in birch pollen allergic adults and assessing the effect of treatment on allergic symptoms by using a controlled birch pollen exposure.”
The funds can also contribute to bringing the next allergy vaccine candidate to clinical readiness. Mattila identifies a “great need for safe and effective treatment for peanut allergy”.
“The same approach we have used for developing the birch pollen allergy vaccine can also be used for designing and producing immunotherapeutic vaccines to treat other allergies. After birch pollen allergy, our next target is peanut allergy. It is one of the most common food allergies and can cause life-threatening allergic reactions.”
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