Circassia announces positive result from phase II T-cell vaccine study for house dust mite allergy

Circassia Ltd, a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on allergy, today announced successful clinical results from a phase II study of its T-cell vaccine targeting house dust mite allergy. The study met each of the safety and efficacy endpoints, with the optimal treatment regimen achieving a major reduction in patients' reactions to house dust mite allergens. These results build on four earlier successful phase II studies of Circassia's ToleroMune(R) technology, which scientifically validated the use of novel T-cell vaccines in treating allergies. Circassia is currently conducting a number of ongoing phase II clinical trials with its therapies for grass (hayfever), cat and ragweed allergies.

Circassia undertook its most recent phase II clinical study in Quebec City, Canada, in 50 patients with confirmed house dust mite allergies. Patients received four standardised doses of ToleroMune T-cell vaccine over a number of weeks. During the study, investigators administered a challenge dose of house dust mite allergen to the volunteers' skin and eyes to assess the impact of the ToleroMune therapy. The results show that the optimal treatment regimen reduced each of the allergic reactions assessed during the study, achieving a therapeutic effect 32% - 87% greater than placebo.

"These positive clinical results, achieved with our house dust mite allergy treatment, are particularly encouraging as they mirror those from earlier successful studies with our cat and ragweed allergy therapies," said Steve Harris, Circassia's CEO. "Our rapidly growing clinical database clearly demonstrates the potential of Circassia's T-cell vaccines to greatly improve allergy treatment, by offering sufferers a convenient and well tolerated alternative to existing immunotherapies. We have made significant progress in advancing a number of allergy T-cell vaccines into mid- to late-stage development, and we continue to work hard to bring these innovative therapies to market as quickly as possible."