Feb. 4, 2004
The beginnings of the allergy-free cat. Simon Brodie and David Avner agree on a business plan for using RNAi to knock out the gene for the major cat allergen fel d 1. |
Sept. 24, 2004
Brodie and Avner agree to form a company called Allerca. |
| Oct. 12, 2004
Brodie backs out of his partnership with Avner. |
| Oct. 26, 2004
Brodie incorporates Allerca without Avner. |
| Oct. 28, 2004
Brodie sends out press releases promising hypoallergenic cats based on RNAi by 2007. "For the first time, people who have been unable to own a cat because of their allergies will be able to have a pet of their own without the associated risks and costs of allergy treatments." |
| Dec. 14, 2004
Avner sues Brodie for stealing and publicizing his trade secrets, soliciting his customers, and usurping investors, "because it appears, from the public's perspective, that [Allerca has] already 'cornered the market' on this new technology." |
| Jan. 31, 2005
U.S. District court in Colorado orders an injunction on Allerca "not to reenter the market for genetically engineered allergen-free cats until after 5/31/06." |
Jan. 31, 2005
The Scientist publishes "Doubts About Allergy-Free Cats." |
Spring 2005
Allerca scientists begin screening cats randomly across the country and in the United Kingdom to try out a fel d 1 genetic test with the intention of developing fel d 1 knockout cats. |
Fall 2005
Allerca scientists stumble upon cats with a mutant fel d 1 that renders them hypoallergenic; they determine that the trait is dominant and begin breeding (cat gestation takes 57-69 days; cats reach maturity in 6-10 months). |
Spring 2006
Second generation of hypoallergenic cats is born. |
May-July 2006
Hired by Allerca, Microbac conducts genetic analysis on samples of hypoallergenic cats and concludes Allerca's cats have mutations not seen in control cats. |
| May 31, 2006
Injunction is lifted, allowing Allerca to pursue development of allergy-free cats. |
June 7, 2006
Allerca announces it has bred hypoallergenic cats and begins accepting deposits. |
Sept. 14 2006
In a press release Allerca announces success in independent clinical trials. "This observation exposure shows the Allerca cat has hypoallergenicity." |
Fall 2006
Third generation of hypoallergenic cats is born. |
| Spring 2007
Allerca's scheduled delivery of hypoallergenic cats to customers. |
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