As indicated above, Allergenome S.L. was the first CSIC spin-off in the field of Agricultural Sciences (2004). Its activity has grown in parallel with its associated parent company, in which it held a 50% stake: AMD-INMUNAL (Instituto de Inmunología y Alergia S.A.U.), a pharmaceutical company founded in 1989 within Zeltia S.A. and later acquired by Alerpharma. One of INMUNAL’s core lines of activity is the development of specialized anti-allergic vaccines capable of reducing or eliminating the symptoms experienced by patients after exposure to allergens. Inmunal is the only company producing individualized allergens from pollen of different olive varieties, thanks to the exploitation contracts for the aforementioned patents, standardized according to EAACI guidelines.
Over these 15 years, numerous reviews and news items about the company’s activities have appeared in the media. Together with Inmunal, the company moved from Coslada to pioneering facilities in Tecnoalcalá (the Science and Technology Park of the University of Alcalá de Henares) in 2008. As an example, a sponsored feature appeared in the industry supplement of La Razón to mark the launch of the anti-allergic vaccine (Allervaccine) in 2000. The group’s R&D policy was reinforced through additional collaboration agreements with the CSIC, as well as with other companies with a recognized R&D profile, such as the University of Navarra. Other media recognition included the SME Information Bulletin of the Community of Madrid, the journal of the Spanish Association of Science and Technology Parks, and the television programme Saber Vivir (TVE).
The company has sponsored numerous meetings and gatherings of allergy specialists and has promoted the completion of numerous research studies. Other ongoing areas of activity have included collaboration in congresses and organized visits by scientific groups to the facilities of Inmunal S.A.U. For example, in 2003, a presentation on advances in research into olive varieties was given to allergy specialists at the EEZ-CSIC, as well as in the lecture hall of the Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca (Murcia). In 2006, a very extensive presentation of the corresponding advances was held in Granada, organized by SPA, publisher of Allergy, with the attendance of 25 allergists. A study involving 130 patients tested with four olive varieties, conducted in the Levante, Central and Andalusian regions, was presented and received extensive media coverage. Further presentations took place at the alergoMurcia meeting in 2008 and at the XII Alergosur inter-hospital meeting, also in 2008.
The company has also promoted the publication of numerous articles in prestigious journals in the field. Among these contributions, particularly noteworthy is the publication of a monographic volume by the publisher Intech (Current Insights in Pollen Allergens, 2012, Jiménez-López JC, Ed., ISBN: 978-953-51-0860-3), which includes six especially relevant chapters on allergy developments involving varietal implications. The company has also designed and distributed various continuing education materials for allergy healthcare professionals.
The flagship product is available in different formats: Allervaccine depot (allergens adsorbed onto aluminium hydroxide), polymerized (individualized single-dose injectable), and microspheres (liposome-encapsulated allergens), the latter also intended for nasal or sublingual administration.
At present, ‘Allergenome’ has been absorbed by the British multinational “Allergy Therapeutics P.L.C.”, from which its partners will continue to develop new technologies. This acquisition was highly valued on the stock market owing to its high value (€3.8 million in total) and was reported by numerous media outlets (Financial Times, Manufacturing Chemist Pharma, Morning Star, The Pharmaletter, Mercado Financiero, ShareCast, and Reuters U.S.).