Allergica Ltd. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to development of novel anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic therapies. Allergica is fully-owned and funded by Bio-Light Life Sciences Investments Ltd., a publicly traded company on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.
Allergy is a major cause of morbidity and medical expenses in developed countries, affecting about 30% of the world population. Allergic diseases, such as asthma, hay fever, atopic dermatitis and allergic conjunctivitis are among the most common encountered by physicians in their clinical practice. The United States National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) estimates that allergic diseases which affect about 50 million Americans are the sixth leading cause of chronic diseases in the US and are associated with direct annual costs exceeding $18 billion. Current therapies of allergy are mainly symptomatic and provide only partial solutions due to limited efficacy and problematic side effects. The lack of satisfactory solutions for allergic disorders makes the development of new and more effective therapies of crucial importance.
Allergica’s unique technology prevents secretion of allergic and inflammatory mediators from mast cells, the key players common to all allergic responses. The technology was developed by a team led by Prof. Ronit Sagi-Eisenberg, of Tel Aviv University, based on their ground-breaking discovery that certain G proteins, involved in cellular communication, are associated with mast cells’ responsiveness. A rationally designed cell-penetrating decoy of the protein showed excellent efficacy as an inhibitor of rat and human mast cells, in vitro. Moreover, preclinical proof-of-concept was confirmed in multiple studies in animal models of allergic conjunctivitis, skin and asthma. The intellectual property (IP) includes two patent applications, one patent, allowed in the US, covering the family of drugs which may emanate from the novel technological approach and the other covering the specific drug, ALL-1, currently under development and Allergica has a worldwide, exclusive license to the IP from Ramot at Tel Aviv University (Ramot).
The mechanism of action of ALL-1 lends itself to parallel development for multiple indications. Thus, depending on their final destination (airways, eyes, skin, or intestine), a variety of products may be commercialized; delivering the drug in the form of drops, aerosol, topical creams or sprays. Allergica is currently focusing on applications for airways and skin and is seeking strategic partners for the development of ophthalmic and bowel applications.
The management team includes, Dr. Yaffa Beck, one of the senior figures in the Israeli biotechnology scene, as Chairman and Prof. Ronit Sagi-Eisenberg as Chief Scientist. Moreover, the Company is supported by the Bio-Light team, including Dr. Gal Ehrlich, founder and manager of Ehrlich and Associates, the leading biotechnology patent attorneys in Israel, Dr. Ami Eyal, surgeon and former pilot, a key figure in Israeli VC industry, Ronit Gross, lawyer and business development strategist and Richard Naimer, legal and financial specialist.
| 33-35 Bezalel St., Paz Towers Ramat Gan Israel 52521 |
Tel: 972 3 753 4100 Fax: 972 3 751 5134 Email: yaffa@bio-light.co.il |