A Groundbreaking New Shot That Can Block Severe Allergic Responses To Small Amounts Of Common Food Allergens Has Been Approved By The FDA And May Help Save Children From Life-Threatening Reactions
According to the CDC, approximately 8% of children in the United States have food allergies. This translates to every one in 13 children or about two students per average school classroom.
But, an exciting breakthrough in treating food allergies might be on the horizon, offering hope for protecting children from severe allergic reactions.
Scientists at the Stanford School of Medicine have found that the medication omalizumab, known commercially as Xolair, can block the severe allergic responses triggered by small quantities of foods like peanuts, eggs, or milk.
This discovery has the potential to change the game for those living with food allergies, who face the daily danger of life-threatening incidents from unintentional encounters with these common allergens.
“Patients impacted by food allergies face a daily threat of life-threatening reactions due to accidental exposures. The study showed that omalizumab could be a layer of protection against small, accidental exposures,” said Dr. Robert Wood, the study’s lead author.
Xolair, which the FDA has previously approved for managing allergic asthma and chronic idiopathic urticaria– or chronic hives– operates by neutralizing IgE antibodies that trigger allergic reactions.
This pioneering research resulted in the FDA endorsing Xolair on February 16 as a treatment to lessen the danger of food-related allergic reactions, shining a ray of hope for individuals grappling with allergies to multiple foods.
In this study, 177 children with severe allergies to peanuts and at least two other foods participated. For four months, these children were given Xolair injections either monthly or every other month.
The outcomes were impressive: 66% of the 118 children who were treated with the drug could safely eat small quantities of foods that had once caused them allergic reactions.
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“I’m excited that we have a promising new treatment for multi-food allergic patients. This new approach showed really great responses for many of the foods that trigger their allergies,” explained Dr. Sharon Chinthrajah, the study’s senior author.
Since around 8% of children and 10% of adults in the United States suffer from food allergies, simple activities such as eating out or going to parties turn into significant challenges.
The repercussions of these allergies extend far beyond health concerns, affecting the social, psychological, and economic well-being of individuals and their families. This often leads to the necessity of buying costly allergen-free products to avoid reactions.
Right now, oral immunotherapy stands as the main approach to treating food allergies. This method requires patients to consume gradually larger doses of the allergenic food under medical oversight, aiming to develop tolerance.
Despite its benefits, this technique comes with certain limitations, such as the potential for allergic reactions and the prolonged duration required for desensitization, making it especially challenging for people with allergies to several types of food.
Xolair, on the other hand, looks to be a hopeful alternative by offering defense against several food allergens at once.
“We think it should have the same impact regardless of what food it is,” said Dr. Chinthrajah.
The study participants underwent re-evaluation between weeks 16 and 20 to measure their tolerance levels to foods that previously triggered their allergies.
The findings revealed that 79 participants– or about 66.9%– treated with Xolair were able to consume at least 600 milligrams of peanut protein, which is about two or three peanuts, in stark contrast to just four individuals– or 6.8%– in the placebo group.
Although Xolair has been deemed safe with no major side effects apart from minor reactions at the injection site, additional studies are needed to fully understand its long-term effectiveness and its impacts on the immune system.
Still, this breakthrough paves the way for a safer and more practical method of managing food allergies, especially for young children who are at heightened risk of unintentional exposure.
With ongoing research, there is also optimism that Xolair might enhance treatment for other allergic conditions, providing a broad-based remedy for individuals dealing with food allergies and associated ailments.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in The New England Journal of Medicine, visit the link here.
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