Very few medical treatments can claim to be a century old, but this is the case of allergen immunotherapy. But don’t be mislead and think that being “old” means that it is “old fashioned”! On the contrary, the field of allergen immunotherapy has experienced a quantum leap in the last years, and is still on the move in order to improve safety, efficacy and “comfort” for the allergic patient.

In 1911, The Lancet published the first original paper by Leonard Noon describing the use of allergen extract injections to treat hay fever in a similar fashion to the recently established vaccine strategy to prevent infectious diseases. To celebrate the anniversary of allergen immunotherapy, EAACI has developed a number of initiatives.

In February, the 2011 SummIT on allergen immunotherapy took place in Geneva, gathering some experts in the field, but also other stakeholders such as patient representatives, regulators and allergen manufacturers. The current status of different issues regarding immunotherapy were discussed, assessing certainties and controversies, identifying niches for further research, while established knowledge was set “black on white”. The resulting output will be published soon and available for all.

A document titled the “European Declaration on Allergen Immunotherapy” has been prepared in order to provide a robust statement on the use of immunotherapy, it’s availability for allergic patients, and the need for resources to fund research, among other points. It has been signed by national and supranational allergy societies, patient organizations, allergen manufacturers and other third parties. The aim is to be able to use this document to increase awareness on immunotherapy among regulators and politicians and to lobby in favor of it in different scenarios.

Finally, in a festive spirit, EAACI has made a call for the “Leonard Noon Award” which will be granted to an outstanding personality in the field of immunotherapy.

So, Noon was a 100 years ago and dawn is now!