Breakthrough Therapy Blocks Cat Allergies

“I’m allergic to cat hair!”
Actually, no, you’re not. 

What your body reacts to is a protein found in cat saliva and cat dander. 

This protein (known as Fel d 1) is then passed onto a cat’s fur as she grooms herself. 

So it’s easy enough to see why someone would assume they’re allergic to cat hair!

Being allergic to Fel d 1 is no picnic. Allergy sufferers can experience a host of misery-inducing conditions: itchy skin, eyes that swell shut, runny noses – even difficulty breathing.

For years, the tried and true method to combat this has been a desensitization program. The goal is to re-educate your own body’s immune system so that it sees this cat protein as friend, not foe.

Traditionally, this has been administered through allergy shots. The course usually takes 5 years, and often doctors advise an indefinite “maintenance program” that follows.

But now a British biopharmaceutical company, Circassia, has pioneered a different approach that blocks the cascade of allergic reactions at their source. In geek-speak, they block mast-cells from releasing histamine, that chemical substance in your body that causes the itching and swelling an runny nose. Those are all the “early-stage” allergy responses.

This new approach also addresses the more threatening “late-stage” allergy responses – the coughing,  wheezing, and difficulty breathing that some people experience. 

More geek-speak: this new approach actually trains your body’s own T-cells to block the secretion of inflammatory molecules that irritate the lungs and airways.

And instead of 5 years, the entire treatment occurs over the course of twelve weeks, with only four doses. 

According to Circassia, their new Cat-SPIRE therapy has achieved unprecedented results, reporting patients’ symptoms being substantially reduced, even long-term.


Great news! You can 
test this out for yourself.

Circassia is currently a year and a half into its Phase III trials of Cat-SPIRE, and is seeking interested cat owners in cities all across the U.S. and Canada to test this new therapy.

When I called to speak to a representative to inquire about where you need to live to be eligible, she told me that the clinical trial, called CATALYST, will find a clinic for you in your area.

All you need to do to participate, if interested, is to contact them. They can be reached by calling 1-844-CAT-STUDY. Or you can go online to submit your location, at this link here.

Three cheers for Circassia, from cat allergy sufferers the world over!

Sources:
Circassia: Cat-SPIRE 
Circassia: About TolerMune Therapy


Monday Medical Disclaimer: 
I am not a veterinarian, and the information provided here is not intended in any way as a substitute for professional veterinary care. Nor should it be used to self-diagnose for your pet. This information is for educational purposes and to provide you with reputable documentation you can use to pose informed questions of your own to the veterinarian of your choice.