A new vaccine has the potential to ward off everything from hay fever and asthma, to reactions to cat fur and peanuts.
A new vaccine designed to spare millions from the misery of allergies could be on our shelves within the next four years.
A number of allergies that blight the lives of 10 million British sufferers could be largely eradicated with a single vaccine. The jab would prevent allergies from hay fever, asthma and eczema to reactions to cat fur and dust, Swiss researches claim.
Experts say the jab would be the ‘holy grail' of vaccines due to its ability to protect against multiple allergies, making it cost effective, easy to manufacture and administer.
Scientists from Cytos Biotechnology, the brains behind the jab, found that a course of the vaccine was almost as good as steroids at keeping asthma under control.
In recent trials, 63 asthmatics were given a course of the dummy drug for two to three months. Asthma attacks and symptoms were cut by a third.
In another trial, one injection a week, for six weeks, cut reactions to house dust mites, runny noses and weepy eyes, by nearly 39%. Experts believe the jab also has the potential to help people with allergies to shellfish and peanuts.
The vaccine- known as CYT003-QbG10 is formed of synthetic DNA similar to those found in the bug that causes tuberculosis. The DNA tricks the body into thinking it is under attack from a dangerous bug, prompting a multi-pronged response.
A spokesman for Allergy UK said: ‘It does sound a very promising treatment, giving hope for those with severe asthma or allergy symptoms for whom the usual treatments aren't enough, but there is still a long way to go before it will be available.
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