Most people know someone in their lives with an allergy. From pollen to peanuts to medicines, allergies are a reality for many throughout their lives. In fact, according to the Allergy and Asthma Foundation of America, more than 100 million people in the U.S. experience allergies every year. While many experience mild symptoms, tens of thousands of emergency room visits every year are due to life-threatening allergic reactions.

But what if there was a more effective way to prevent these side effects for a longer period of time? Scientists have been exploring this possibility through a potential vaccine for allergies that targets immunoglobulin E (IgE), a primary cause of allergic reactions. Currently, allergy medicines are a common way to relieve symptoms, especially seasonal allergies. These drugs work by targeting and blocking histamine release from cells to reduce reactions such as inflammation. Additionally, allergy shots do currently exist. However, these shots function through a different mechanism that relies on gradually building immunity to allergens through repeated exposure to increasing doses.

IgE is an antibody that is bound to the surface of blood basophils and tissue mast cells. When it binds to a specific allergen, mediators such as histamine are released, causing allergic reactions in various levels of severity. Therefore, anti-IgE antibodies are being studied as a mechanism to target IgE antibodies. Currently, Omalizumab , an anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, is used to treat cases of allergic asthma. However, this treatment is extremely cost-prohibitive, with a list price of $30,000 to $60,000 per year due to the necessary repeated doses. Because of this, there is a need for cheaper, longer lasting protection against serious allergic reactions.

To address this challenge, scientists are developing a conjugate vaccine called IgE kinoid , which typically functions by using pieces of germs for its immunogenic properties. This vaccine was created by linking a fragment of IgE to a carrier protein, which was detected as foreign by immune cells, inducing a long-term production of IgE neutralizing antibodies in mouse models. In the experiment, the vaccine protected against IgE-induced anaphylaxis for a year without any notable side effects. Another approach to an IgE targeting vaccine involved virus-like particles (VLPs), a vaccine technology which is often used to modify and induce antibody responses to target specific allergens. In this case, this mechanism was used to downregulate IgE levels instead of typical allergens, which yielded favorable results.

IgE targeting vaccines may be a promising treatment to prevent allergic reactions in the future. Research is still being conducted to develop these treatments, but perhaps one day allergies will not result in so many life-threatening reactions given affordable, long-lasting treatments. With these advances, not as many people will have to struggle with even minor allergic reactions day-to-day, and more will be able to live without the anxiety that even the smallest interaction with an allergen may have serious consequences.