Background and milestones
1983
IMMUNSYSTEM was founded in 1983 by Anders Larsson from Uppsala
University and Per-Erik Wejĺker from the Swedish University of
Agriculture. The researchers brought together the disciplines of
protein research and animal handling. Much of their work was done in
the production and use of antibodies within diagnostics. Over the
years, inherent advantages were found with avian antibodies (IgY)
and the focus of the company shifted towards using IgY. During the
following years, IMMUNSYSTEM developed kits for screening of
specific analytes and offered a large selection of purified
antibodies for use in diagnostics.
1993
IMMUNSYSTEM was approached by Hans Kollberg, at the time doctor
at the Cystic Fibrosis center, Akademiska Hospital in Uppsala. The
idea from this meeting was that avian antibodies should be possible
to use for the prevention and treatment of microbial infections. In
this field of immune therapy, hens are vaccinated with the microbe
that is associated with a certain indication. Due to the
susceptibility of CF patients to acquire infections with Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, the first clinical tests were set up in this area.
Promising results indicated a proof-of-concept. The study of CF
patients was continued and at the same time clinics were run for
infections common in other indications.
2003
GMP production of Anti-Pseudomonas IgY was set up at Fresenius-Kabi
in Sweden. Based on reported results from preclinical and clinical
studies in the CF study, the Swedish Medical Products Agency in
November 2003 gave special permission to CF patients to be treated
with IMMUNSYSTEM's Anti-Pseudomonas IgY. The Swedish government
reimburses this treatment.
2008
With a continued focus on immune therapy, a major milestone was
achieved in 2008 when the European Medicines Agency (EMEA) granted
an orphan drug designation to IMMUNSYSTEM’s drug candidate for
treatment of cystic fibrosis.
