ALLERCEPT^® Shots

The Gold Standard in Allergy Technology

Heska is a world leader in innovative solutions for veterinary allergic disease holding many patents covering its allergy products. Heska’s unique, patented ALLERCEPT® program technology can detect as little as 10 picograms (trillionths of a gram) of allergen-specific IgE and can be used alone or in conjunction with conventional intradermal skin testing to accurately identify the source or sources of an allergic reaction. Unlike many other serum IgE tests that can mis-identify allergy sensitization based on the false-positive detection of allergen-specific IgG, Heska’s use of the high-affinity IgE receptor assures that false positives resulting from IgG detection do not occur.

Heska has patent rights for use of the high-affinity IgE receptor to measure allergen-specific IgE in the serum of both animals and humans. Heska’s ALLERCEPT Panels are validated for dogs, cats and horses. The simplicity of ALLERCEPT tests and treatment enables veterinarians in general practice to develop a core allergy practice, ensuring that many more allergic pets can be treated or referred to dermatology specialists.

ALLERCEPT Therapy Shots

Allergen-specific immunotherapy, or ASIT, modulates the immune response. It is a treatment modality whose success depends on accurate determination of the patient’s specific sensitivities, by either intradermal or serum IgE testing.

The mechanisms of allergen-specific immunotherapy are not completely understood, but it is clear that several different cells and processes in the immune system are affected. Dendritic cells, also called antigen-presenting cells, are cells throughout the skin, gut, and mucosal surfaces whose function is to grab onto allergen molecules. They then travel to a local lymph node, and “instruct” the immune system how to further respond. ASIT causes dendritic cells to induce production of molecules and cells such as regulatory T-lymphocytes, which further downregulate the immune response. Immunotherapy works to restore immune response back to normal Th1 (IgG) from the misdirected Th2 (IgE). It is a downregulation of IgE / upregulation of IgG.

Extracts of the identified allergens are mixed together and administered to the patient by subcutaneous injection, starting with very tiny doses and gradually building up to very large doses. This treatment was formerly called “desensitization” or “hyposensitization” and is often referred to in lay terms as “allergy shots.”

ALLERCEPT Therapy Drops

Allergy shots are an ineffective treatment for some patients, due to lack of efficacy, difficulty in administration, or adverse reactions. Sublingual immunotherapy is an effective treatment for many patients who fail to respond to allergy shots.

The immune privilege of oral mucosa. Trends in Molecular MedicineIn addition to offering immunotherapy injections to relieve the painful conditions of atopic dermatitis, Heska is the first to introduce a proprietary sublingual immunotherapy. Administered beneath the tongue, ALLERCEPT® Therapy Drops provide a simple way to provide effective relief.

Sublingual Mechanism

Sublingual immunotherapy allows specific antigens placed under the tongue to induce immunologic tolerance. Multiple mechanisms are involved and include the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and the induction of regulatory T-cells.

The mucosal area under the tongue is a privileged immunological site with unique characteristics. It consists of:
A physical barrier (mucosa)
Local immune cells
— High concentration of dendritic cells and T-cells
— Low concentration of mast cells, basophils and eosinophils
This allows for:
Differentiation of pathogens from harmless antigens
Muting of immediate and delayed allergic responses
Tolerance of mucosally-delivered allergens

Safety and Efficacy

Allergy drops have been used around the world in humans for more than 70 years and numerous studies validate both the safety and effectiveness. In fact, the World Allergy Organization has endorsed sublingual immunotherapy as a viable alternative to injection therapy in humans. The Cochrane Collaboration, the world’s most-trusted international organization dedicated to reviewing healthcare treatments, recently concluded allergy drop immunotherapy significantly reduced allergy symptoms and use of allergy medications. See RESEARCH section for more information.

Heska’s proprietary technology for sublingual administration was developed as a veterinary-specific variation based on a unique, time-tested and highly efficacious human protocol. In efficacy trials with hundreds of atopic dogs treated by veterinary dermatologists in varying geographic areas of the U.S. over the past 3 years, approximately 60% of dogs demonstrated substantial improvement in their clinical signs. Approximately 50% of dogs that showed no improvement or could not tolerate allergy shots, showed improvement when treated with allergy drops.

ALLERCEPT Therapy Drops can even be used safely in dogs that have experienced a prior anaphylactic reaction to allergy shots. If the patient has a history of prior anaphylactic reaction to allergy shots, please contact Heska’s Medical & Technical Consultants at 1-800-464-3752, option 5.