Inmunotek
Pushing the Boundaries of Immunotherapy

Think of the most dangerous species on the planet. The first names that might come to our minds are vipers, alligators, or scorpions. But ants? Suddenly, some species of black ants roaming the Middle East have caught attention after being linked to anaphylaxis, resulting in several deaths in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and UAE. The medical science community’s findings have determined that the venom of some ant species is capable of causing severe life-threatening allergic reactions that can even lead some of the sensitised sting victims to an early grave. Given the rising deaths caused by these tiny death dealers, Inmunotek, a premier immunotherapy firm, is teaming up with local Researchers in KSA and UAE to develop specific immunotherapy against such allergen. Inmunotek is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to develop the best immunotherapy solutions against similar allergens that torment patients around the world.

Notably, this is but one of the many instances of how Inmunotek has been pushing the boundaries of finding novel immunotherapies since it was founded in 1992 by the renowned immunologist, Dr. Jose L. Subiza, MD, PhD. Since its inception, the company’s primary focus has been on research, development, manufacturing, and marketing of allergy and immunology products, including immunotherapies and diagnostics. Especially, Inmunotek’s R&D program is continually innovating and improving its allergy and mucosal vaccines to prevent recurrent infections, while also enhancing vaccine adjuvants and cancer vaccines. “We are revitalising immunotherapy by deploying innovative and competitive products to fulfill the unmet treatment needs across the globe,” says Subiza, who is also the President-CEO of Inmunotek.

From words to action, the company delivers a broad portfolio of products for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases, including a catalogue of allergen extracts. These immunotherapies can be applied through sublingual (spray) or parenteral administration with conventional native allergens, or with highly polymerised allergoids to increase the safety profile. Inmunotek’s products allow fast up-dosing with just a single concentration, which is convenient for both patients and doctors. The company also offers a list of bacterial formulations to personalise treatments based on patient needs.

According to Subiza, immunotherapy is a well-proven therapeutic option against allergens, especially those that cause respiratory challenges. However, it still has room for improvement in terms of safety and efficacy.

To bridge this gap, Inmunotek is developing a range of novel vaccines targeting dendritic cells using polymerised allergoids of low allergenicity coupled to carbohydrates. These glycoconjugates, designed to target dendritic cells, exhibit outstanding immunomodulatory effects by inducing regulatory T cells to establish a long-lasting therapeutic effect. These developments have garnered positive results in (phase 2) clinical trials for the most important allergens such as mites or pollen from grasses and birch, in subcutaneous and sublingual preparations. Subiza also notes that phase 3 of the clinical trials are scheduled for the next five years.

We are revitalising immunotherapy by deploying innovative and competitive products to fulfill the unmet treatment needs across the globe

As Inmunotek takes these steps to fill the gaps in immunotherapy practices, it is also exploring new solutions for several other glaring challenges in the field of immunology. One such therapeutic obstacle is the spread of infectious diseases by antibiotic-resistant bacteria or pathogens for which vaccines are not yet available in the market. In this regard, Inmunotek is working with bacterial mucosal (sublingual) vaccines using new concepts such as trained immunity. The trained immunity-based vaccines (TIbV) facilitate the stimulation of the innate branch of the immune system. While this type of immunity is non-specific and short-lasting, it can confer protection against a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria and viruses.

Through the utilisation of such novel approaches, Inmunotek has achieved outstanding results with MV130 in a randomised placebo-controlled (RCT) phase 3 clinical trial to prevent wheezing attacks in young children, mostly from the viral origin. In a more conventional vaccine approach, the company has also finished a phase 3 RCT with MV140, a sublingual vaccine to prevent recurrent urological bacterial infections with promising preliminary results.

In parallel with the development of new vaccines, the company is delivering cutting-edge immunotherapies to some of the worst-affected tropical countries and facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening allergies. For instance, mosquito allergy is widespread in some geographic regions that have a high prevalence of allergy due to house dust mites. Recently, Inmunotek collaborated with researchers from Colombia and Austria, and consequently, elucidated the cross-reactivity between mosquitoes and mites by identifying a protein (tropomyosin) shared by both insects.

Through such international collaboration programs, Inmunotek is making its presence known in many countries. Thanks to its successful contributions, the company has garnered several accolades for its contribution in the medical field, including the National Innovation Award 2019 (Spanish Ministry of Science), Best SME of the Year 2019 (CEPYME-CEOE), Best Innovative Company 2018 (CEIM-CEOE), among others. On this extraordinary journey towards excellence, Inmunotek is all set to revolutionise the immunotherapy space.