Nestlé Health Science collaborates with DBV Technologies to accelerate development of an innovative diagnostic tool for Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
- Nestlé Health Science granted worldwide commercialization rights for DBV’s innovative diagnostic tool
- Strong fit with Nestlé Health Science pediatric allergy portfolio
Epalinges, Switzerland, 31 May 2016 – Nestlé Health Science today announced that it has entered into a strategic collaboration with DBV Technologies, headquartered in Montrouge, France, aimed at developing and bringing to market DBV’s innovative patch-test tool for the diagnosis of Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) in infants.
CMPA is a difficult to diagnose condition, which impacts up to 2-3%1 of infants and young children during a critical stage of their development. DBV will leverage its proprietary Viaskin® technology platform to develop an innovative, ready-to-use, standardized atopy patch-test.
Today, CMPA is often missed in the primary care settings due to the non-specific nature of symptoms associated with the condition, such as eczema, reflux, constipation, diarrhea, crying and others. In 2015, Nestlé Health Science made a first step forward in addressing this difficulty through the Cow’s Milk-related Symptom Score (CoMiSS®) awareness tool, developed by leading international experts to help healthcare professionals earlier recognize and assess symptoms that may be related to CMPA in infants and young children.
In the future, DBV’s patch-test will enable early and accurate diagnosis of the condition, leading to early nutritional intervention, thereby creating a strong fit with Nestlé Health Science’s nutritional solutions that helps meet the needs of babies and children with food allergies and intolerances (Althéra®, Alfaré®, Alfamino®).
Under the terms of the agreement, DBV grants Nestlé Health Science exclusive worldwide commercialization rights of DBV’s diagnostic tool. Nestlé Health Science will make an upfront payment of EUR 10 million. DBV will be responsible for the development stages, including industrialization and regulatory submissions. Moreover, DBV is eligible to receive development milestones, and if approved, sales milestones and royalty payments on sales.
Greg Behar, CEO of Nestlé Health Science, said: “This innovation can become the breakthrough diagnostic for CMPA. Early diagnosis and nutritional intervention helps get infants happily back on the path of healthy development, alleviate the anxieties of parents, and reduce healthcare costs. Our reach in the field of pediatric allergy makes Nestlé Health Science an ideal commercialization partner for DVB’s innovative diagnostic patch. This collaboration is another step in our strategy of advancing the role of nutrition through science-based innovation.”
DBV Technology’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Pierre-Henri Benhamou, said, “Improving the lives of those suffering from food allergies is DBV’s mission, and through this exciting partnership with Nestlé Health Science, we are further showcasing our portfolio of potentially transformational and cutting-edge products. Combining DBV’s innovative and proprietary technology with Nestlé Health Science’s global presence and expertise in nutritional therapies is a synergistic approach that we believe has the potential to improve the overall health of our patients.”
About DBV Technologies
DBV Technologies developed Viaskin®, a proprietary technology platform with broad potential applications in immunotherapy. Viaskin is based on epicutaneous immunotherapy, or EPIT®, DBV’s method of delivering biologically active compounds to the immune system through intact skin. With this new class of self- administered and non-invasive product candidates, the company is dedicated to safely transforming the care of food allergic patients, for whom there are no approved treatments. DBV’s food allergies programs include ongoing clinical trials of Viaskin Peanut and Viaskin Milk, and preclinical development of Viaskin Egg. DBV is also pursuing a human proof concept clinical study of Viaskin Milk for the treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and exploring potential applications of its platform in vaccines and other immune diseases.
DBV Technologies has global headquarters in Montrouge, France and New York, NY. Company shares are traded on segment B of Euronext Paris (Ticker: DBV, ISIN code: FR0010417345), part of the SBF120 index, and traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market in the form of American Depositary Shares (each representing one-half of one ordinary share) (Ticker: DBVT). For more information on DBV Technologies, please visit our website: www.dbv-technologies.com.
Forward-Looking Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” regarding the development and commercialization of an innovative diagnostic tool for Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, and could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from current expectations. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed.
Reference:
1. Høst A. Frequency of cow’s milk allergy in childhood. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2002;89(Sup1):33-7
- Nestlé Health Science press release
- DBV Technologies Press release in English
- DBV Technologies Press release in French
