From theory to breakthrough.
A Different Way of Understanding the Immune System
For decades, the immune system has been understood as a collection of individual cells and molecules working in a linear, cause-and-effect way. While this view has led to important advances, another powerful framework has re-emerged—Immune Network Theory (INT).
INT proposes that the immune system functions as a dynamic, interconnected network, where antibodies not only recognize foreign threats but also interact with one another to maintain balance. This systems-based view is foundational to Network Immunology’s approach.
The Origins of Immune Network Theory
In the mid-1970s, Danish immunologist Dr. Niels Kaj Jerne introduced immune network theory, drawing parallels to neural networks in the brain that learn and adapt over time.
His work suggested that immunity is governed by communication and regulation across a network, rather than isolated reactions. This idea earned Dr. Jerne the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1984, sparking early excitement about new ways to treat immune-related disease.
Solving the Puzzle, Building the Company
Momentum around immune network theory slowed in the 1980s due to a major scientific challenge known as the I-J Paradox, which led many researchers to abandon the network model. In contrast, Network Immunology’s founder, Dr. Geoffrey Hoffmann, focused on solving this problem.
Through decades of research and experimentation—much of it conducted while leading an immunology lab at the University of British Columbia—Dr. Hoffmann developed a solution to the paradox and continued advancing network-based immunology. In 2003, he founded Network Immunology to translate this science into real-world therapies.
From Theory to AbstimX™ and the Path Forward
Over the past decade, Network Immunology’s work has culminated in AbstimX™, a platform technology designed to rebalance an overactive immune system by restoring regulatory stability. Across multiple preclinical studies, AbstimX™ has shown the potential to address a range of allergic and autoimmune conditions by targeting immune dysfunction at its core.
Today, the company is advancing this technology through translational development—beginning with canine allergies, a well-established model for human immune disease. These studies inform and accelerate the next stage: applying AbstimX™ in human clinical settings to address chronic inflammatory and immune-related diseases.