:: Health News ::

(PRWEB) April 21, 2005 — CMP Therapeutics is an Oxford based biotechnology company that is developing a simple nasal spray containing a natural carbohydrate called chitin for preventing the development of allergy symptoms from pollens, animal dander or house dust mite.

The nasal spray was developed by Dr Peter Strong at the University of Oxford. The chitin used in the nasal spray is purified from shrimp shells and is chemically the same as the chitin found in the walls of fungal spores. The nose and lungs contain immune cells that recognise chitin particles and produce natural cytokines after ingesting them.

These cytokines not only improve protection against infection by pathogenic microbes and spores but also have a potent anti-allergy action. The chitin nasal spray stimulates this same natural immune response and reduces allergy symptoms. This anti-allergy effect has been demonstrated against many common allergens, including grass and tree pollens, house dust mite and cat allergens.

In a recent pilot clinical trial performed by a leading allergist in Taiwan, children with rhinitis and mild asthma used the nasal spray on a daily basis for 28 weeks. There were some significant improvements in rhinitis symptoms and lung function after using this natural immune stimulating nasal spray.

It is hoped that the nasal spray could eventually be used by children to stop the development of allergies and asthma by providing a natural and safe stimulation to their developing immune systems and enhancing protection against allergens and infections. And for hay fever sufferers, a preventative natural remedy like this could be just the thing to stop allergy symptoms from developing when the pollen count increases.

The immune enhancing effects of chitin have also been shown to make it an excellent adjuvant for the development of nasal vaccines and published research supports this.

Dr Strong is presently searching for corporate partners in the US and elsewhere to fund the company as well as develop and market the patented nasal spray. It is a challenge and will require the expertise of companies focussed on natural products to produce a product for marketing.

Further details: www.cmptherapeutics.com