DBV-Technologies – exploring the avenue of epicutaneous cures to common allergies

The Viaskin patch is classified as EPIT – an epicutaneous immunotherapy technique

There are more and more people, young and old, in all parts of the world, who are susceptible to a range of allergies. Sometimes allergic reactions are no more than minor irritants that make everyday life a little less pleasant, sometimes they can be much more serious. DBV-Technologies (www.dbv-technologies.com/en/) is a firm based in France which is taking a fresh approach to tackling some of the most problematic allergies affecting our society today. They’re doing this through the creation of a series of patches, including Viaskin Peanut and Viaskin milk. This latter patch is obviously aimed at those suffering from cows’ milk protein allergy, an extremely common allergy these days (up to 3% of infants/children are affected by this allergy in certain countries).

The Viaskin patch is classified as EPIT – an epicutaneous immunotherapy technique

Source: http://www.dbv-technologies.com

As you can see in the photograph below, the patch is applied to the patient’s arm and functions in the same way regardless of the allergy it treats. Very small quantities of the allergen to which the individual is allergic are released into the skin through the patch. Over time, the body should become ‘tolerized’ to this substance and will no longer react as violently to it – in other words, serious allergic reactions will cease.