Latest development status of the vaccine rice for cedar pollen allergy

Abstract

We have developed the vaccine rice for cedar pollen allergy and have been trying to commercialize it since then.　At first, we aimed to commercialize it as food for specified health use, but the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had a different opinion.　Then, we had made efforts to bring it out as the medicine by consulting with Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency （PMDA）.　However, any pharmaceutical companies embarked on this challenging project.　Now, we are trying to accumulate the evidence in clinical studies in collaboration with medical institutions.　Hopefully, a new functional food category between medicine and food will be established in near future and the vaccine rice will be approved as a functional food by receiving a big boost from patients suffer from pollinosis.