Biotech company Aravax is on a mission to transform food allergy treatment with a clinical-stage candidate designed to reprogram the immune system’s response to peanut exposure, rather than just managing symptoms.
If successful, the precisely selected peptides designed to retrain the immune system to tolerate peanut proteins would result in a therapy that builds long-term peanut tolerance while minimising the risk of severe reactions – a common drawback of current treatments.
At the forefront of this approach and the proprietary platform technology is Aravax Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer Dr Sara Prickett, whose adventurous spirit and scientific skills have seen her work in the UK, Australia, the US and now Spain.
For the Love of Science
Growing up in the UK, Sara was always fascinated by how the body works, a curiosity that led her to study Biomedical Science at the University of Sheffield, where she developed a strong interest in immunology.
Motivated by a desire to address global health issues, she went on to complete a PhD in parasitology and immunology at Imperial College London, focusing on leishmaniasis (a disease caused by the Leishmania parasite), a sickness she had known little about before her studies.
Her connection to Australia began during post-university travels and deepened through a US-based parasitology course, where she met researchers from Melbourne’s Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) and Melbourne University.
After completing her PhD, Sara was offered a postdoctoral role to work on malaria research with a team at the WEHI. A move that allowed her to merge her professional passions for infection and immunity, a fulfilling academic and professional career, and a lifestyle that included surfing, adventure racing and swing dancing.
Rewriting the Allergy Playbook
An invitation to deliver a lecture on Malaria to third-year immunology students at Monash University provided the introduction to Robyn O’Hehir and Jennifer Rolland, eventually leading Sara to explore the allergy field.
It was in this lab at Monash that Sara, Robyn, and Jennifer developed a novel allergy candidate that used peanut protein peptides to retrain the immune system.
After years of surviving on grants that kept the company afloat but slowed momentum, Fiona Miles from the Alfred Hospital, introduced the trio to Dr Chris Smith, a Brandon Capital partner who had also studied immunology at WEHI.
The introduction proved fortuitous, ultimately resulting in Brandon Capital’s investment in the fledgling pre-clinical biotech company, which was now known as Aravax.
International Language of Science
Sara met her Spanish-born husband in Australia and, once again embracing adventure, decided to relocate to Europe in July 2020. Despite the challenges of moving during the COVID-19 pandemic, they wanted to be closer to family, and Spain’s sunny climate won over the UK’s more modest offering.
Barcelona became their base, a city rich in culture and language, which they had always wanted to experience. The pandemic’s shift to remote work helped ease her transition, as Aravax had already adopted flexible operations, allowing Sara to continue her role remotely.
Moving to Spain did come with some challenges, such as learning Spanish and Catalan, adjusting to scientific communication in a new language, and facing initial professional isolation.
However, she addressed these by joining a biotech-focused co-working space, which helped her stay connected. With Aravax already operating globally, the transition was ultimately smooth, aided by the ‘unifying voice of science’ and the company’s distributed team.
Looking Back and Ahead
Now more than a decade into the journey, Aravax is approaching what could be its most crucial year yet, with topline results from its Phase II trial expected in mid-2026.
This data will reveal whether their promising approach, which has already shown strong immune system modulation and excellent safety, can deliver real-world efficacy.
In preparation, Sara and CEO Pascal Hickey are scaling manufacturing and laying the foundation to swiftly advance into Phase III trials. “Our ambition is to get this product to market as fast as possible”, she says. “Peanut allergy patients have waited long enough.”
Looking back on her career so far, Sara’s advice to her 25-year-old self is simple: follow your passions, but balance them with an understanding of what it takes to bring an idea to the clinic.
“It’s not enough to have a great discovery; learn what it takes to get that discovery to a patient’s bedside.”
Next to that, she underlines the importance of surrounding yourself with great people. “Never underestimate the power of loving what you do, or the people you work with. That’s what will sustain you through the hardest parts.”
Sara’s journey is a reminder that while borders may define nations, science speaks a universal language, one that has carried Sara across continents and turned a leap of faith into a new beginning.
