New Antibody Study Suggests Potential to Retrain the Immune System Against Food Allergies

A new study published in Clinical & Experimental Allergy suggests that human-derived, laboratory-engineered antibodies may do more than protect against allergic reactions—they could also help steer the immune system toward developing lasting tolerance. Developed by Swiss biotechnology company Mabylon AG in collaboration with Wageningen University & Research, these specialized allergen-neutralizing antibodies, belonging to the IgG4 class, demonstrate a potential dual-action mechanism that both intercepts allergens and redirects immune activity toward a less inflammatory response.

In a typical allergic reaction, allergens such as peanut proteins bind to IgE antibodies attached to immune cells, triggering the release of histamine and other inflammatory chemicals that can cause hives, swelling, or life-threatening anaphylaxis. By contrast, the researchers tested human-derived IgG4 antibodies designed to intercept allergens before they activate this allergic cascade. In laboratory experiments using immune cells from peanut-allergic patients, the antibodies prevented IgE-facilitated allergen binding to B cells, redirecting the allergens instead toward specialized immune cells known as myeloid antigen-presenting cells.

This redirection was associated with a significant shift in immune signaling. Rather than promoting inflammatory type-2 cytokines associated with allergic responses, the treated cells showed increased production of interleukin-10 (IL-10), an anti-inflammatory messenger that helps regulate immune activity. Researchers also observed increased regulatory T-cell populations in certain peanut-allergic donor samples, suggesting that the antibodies may encourage immune responses associated with tolerance. “Our antibodies are designed to neutralize allergens before they can trigger the allergic cascade. These new data show that they may also actively shape the immune response toward greater tolerance,” explained Dr Niccolò Pengo, Chief Scientific Officer of Mabylon AG.

To investigate whether these effects could extend beyond isolated immune cells, researchers used a mouse model of peanut allergy undergoing oral immunotherapy, a treatment involving controlled exposure to increasing amounts of an allergen. Administering the IgG4 antibodies alongside peanut exposure reduced mast-cell activation, helped maintain the animals’ own protective peanut-specific IgG responses, and prevented the increase in allergy-associated IgE antibodies observed during oral immunotherapy without the antibodies. These findings suggest that combining allergen-neutralizing antibodies with immunotherapy could potentially improve treatment safety while supporting more favorable immune responses.

The findings may also extend beyond food allergies. In separate laboratory experiments, researchers observed a similar allergen-redirection mechanism using IgG4 antibodies targeting Bet v 1, a major birch-pollen allergen. Although these experiments did not establish clinical effectiveness against environmental allergies, they suggest that the underlying mechanism may apply to different classes of allergens, potentially expanding the approach to airborne allergens as well as food allergies.

Mabylon is already advancing this technology into human clinical development. Its lead candidate, MY006, is undergoing a Phase I clinical trial for peanut allergy, with the patient portion of the study underway. The company is also developing MY010, a trispecific antibody designed to target birch, oak, and related tree-pollen allergens. MY010 has entered manufacturing preparations for clinical use, with human trials expected to begin in 2027. Mabylon plans to monitor biological markers associated with potential immune modification in both programs, alongside the antibodies’ ability to provide protection against allergic reactions.

While the findings offer a promising direction for allergy treatment, the evidence remains preliminary. The study involved laboratory experiments using human immune cells and a mouse model, rather than demonstrating lasting tolerance in patients. Researchers have not yet established whether the immune changes persist after antibody treatment ends or whether they translate into long-term clinical benefits. Several study authors are affiliated with Mabylon, underscoring the importance of further clinical investigation and independent confirmation. Nevertheless, the results raise the possibility of moving beyond temporary protection toward therapies that address the underlying allergic immune response. As Mabylon Chief Executive Officer Dr Alcide Barberis summarized: “Our primary goal is to develop long-acting therapies that provide rapid protection. These findings suggest that this could potentially be complemented by modification of the underlying allergic immune response over time.”