Assessment of the Contribution of Monophosphoryl Lipid A (MPL) to a Tree Pollen Allergy Vaccine

Allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT), the administration of gradually increasing quantities of an allergen extract to an allergic patient, is a curative approach which directly treats the underlying allergic disease. Tree MATA MPL has been developed to provide pre-seasonal specific immunotherapy for patients with an allergy to tree pollen (hay fever). The tolerability and immunogenicity of Tree MATA (allergen modified with glutaraldehyde and adsorbed to tyrosine) with and without MPL adjuvant (monophosphoryl lipid A, extracted from a bacterial cell surface) is being investigated in this double-blind, randomized Phase IIa study in volunteers allergic to birch and hazel and alder pollen. Additionally, this study will assess residual allergenicity of the modified birch and hazel and alder pollen in the product Tree MATA MPL using skin prick testing in volunteers allergic to birch and hazel and alder pollen.