Peanut allergy is 1 of the commonest meals allergic reactions, affecting about 2% of individuals in america. There are at the moment 2 immunotherapy therapies permitted by the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) for youngsters and adults with peanut allergy:
- PALFORZIA – a type of oral immunotherapy the place folks with a peanut allergy eat small quantities of peanut powder combined with meals day by day to assist their immune system react much less strongly to peanuts.
- Omalizumab (Xolair®) – a shot given a couple of times a month that helps block part of the immune system that causes allergic reactions. Xolair is permitted for all meals allergic reactions, together with however not restricted to peanut.
A Potential New Remedy Possibility for Peanut Allergy
VIASKIN® is one other therapy possibility that’s being developed. VIASKIN is a patch positioned on the pores and skin. The patch releases a tiny quantity of peanut protein — about 1/1,000th of a peanut — by means of the pores and skin every day. This small dose is picked up by particular immune cells that carry it to close by lymph nodes. It helps the physique grow to be much less delicate to peanuts with out the protein getting into the bloodstream.
Earlier analysis exhibits that the VIASKIN peanut patch is a well-tolerated and efficient therapy for youngsters with a peanut allergy. A latest research exhibits the therapy is protected and efficient long run.
Within the research, youngsters aged 4-11 years previous have been handled with the patch for as much as 60 months (5 years). The outcomes confirmed that the longer the kids used the patch, the higher they responded to peanut publicity. The variety of children responding to the therapy went from 39% after 1 12 months to 73% after 5 years.
The therapy additionally helped the physique produce extra peanut-specific antibodies. This implies the immune system is reacting higher to peanuts. After 5 years, 2/3 of the youngsters have been in a position to enhance the quantity so they may eat 3 to 4 peanuts earlier than reacting.
The research additionally discovered that just about all (93%) of the youngsters stayed with the therapy for your entire research, which exhibits that the patch is protected and well-tolerated. These outcomes counsel that utilizing the VIASKIN peanut patch could assist children construct a tolerance to peanuts. This might make it a doable possibility for managing peanut allergic reactions. Having an alternative choice accessible for peanut allergy is vital to make sure folks and households managing meals allergy have choices that meet their wants, existence, and preferences.
We Need to Hear from You!
VIASKIN will not be but permitted by the FDA. However the maker, DBV Applied sciences, is in search of approval. The therapy is going through obstacles that would delay its availability to folks with peanut allergy. With out continued funding, this promising therapy could by no means grow to be accessible to the individuals who want it. This might additionally gradual progress in researching and growing therapies for different meals allergic reactions.
It’s useful for FDA to listen to straight from households dwelling with peanut allergic reactions. Sharing your peanut allergy story may also help households like yours have extra therapy choices accessible. We invite you to share your day by day life, the challenges you face, and the way having new therapy choices would make a distinction. Utilizing the shape under, it is possible for you to to contact the FDA straight because the company makes its choice to approve this new therapy possibility.
Please fill out the shape under and use the “Click on to customise” button to share your meals allergy story with the FDA.
Medical Evaluation: March 2025 by Matthew Greenhawt, MD. Dr. Greenhawt is a member of AAFA’s Medical Scientific Council. He’s additionally a member of the medical advisory board for DBV Applied sciences, a member of the Joint Taskforce on Allergy Observe Parameters, and the senior affiliate editor for the Annals of Allergy, Bronchial asthma, and Immunology.
