Hay fever vaccine developed

A company called Allergy Therapeutics, based in Worhing, Sussex has developed a hay fever vaccine called Pollinex Quattro.

Usually, a hay fever patient had to have vaccine shots weekly for about six months, and other shots for about three years.

The new vaccine has 13 different grass pollen extracts treated so they don't overwhelm the immune system, the pollen extracts being combined with tyrosin, which releases the vaccine slowly into the immune system.

A molecule called MPL(monophosphoryl lipid)(MPL is also used in cervical cancer vaccine) is also added,which helps boost the immune system's response to the new vaccine.

Of volunters who took part in trials of the new vaccine 13% reeported improved symptoms compared to those taking a placebo.