Stallergenes, DBV in Allergy R&D Pact

Stallergenes S.A. and DBV Technologies have entered an R&D agreement for the treatment of birch allergy. The partnership will combine Stallergenes’ respiratory expertise with DBV’s Viaskin epicutaneous delivery technology that modulates the immune response to allergens. In conjunction with the agreement, Stallergenes will acquire 2% equity in DBV from existing shareholders.
 
Stallergenes will fund DBV’s preclinical development, which aims to deliver a clinical product candidate that uses Stallergenes’ Birch pollen allergen. Stallergenes will have full development and worldwide commercialization rights to the product candidate, and DBV is eligible to receive preclinical, clinical, regulatory and commercial milestone payments totaling as much as €145 million, as well as royalties on future product sales.
 
Dr. Pierre-Henri Benhamou, chairman and chief executive officer of DBV Technologies, said,“We are pleased to partner with Stallergenes on this exciting respiratory development program using a recombinant Birch allergen protein. This reflects the broader potential of the Viaskin technology beyond only food allergies. Given Stallergenes’ experience in immunotherapy and allergen development, coupled with DBV’s epicutaneous delivery technology, this collaboration could lead to a valuable medical treatment for patients with respiratory allergies.”
 
Dr. Roberto Gradnik, chief executive officer of Stallergenes, said, “This collaboration on birch allergy with DBV Technologies is the first concrete project combining our in-depth expertise in allergen immunotherapy with DBV’s promising epicutaneous route of administration. Illustrating our continuous focus on innovation and patients’ needs, it will provide a highly innovative solution for patients suffering from intense symptoms due to birch allergy.”