Food Allergy Cure? This FDA-Approved Drug Helps Kids Eat Peanuts, Milk, And More!

A new clinical trial has found that an injectable asthma drug, omalizumab (Xolair), can help children with severe food allergies eat their trigger foods safely. The findings, presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology meeting in San Diego, offer fresh hope for families dealing with life-threatening food allergies.

Promising Trial Results

According to phase 2 results, 36 per cent of children who took omalizumab for a year were able to eat full servings of foods they were previously allergic to. In contrast, only 19 per cent of children who received a shorter course of the drug followed by oral immunotherapy had the same success.

Omalizumab works by targeting the antibodies that cause allergic reactions, effectively neutralizing them. It has been on the market since 2003, primarily used for treating allergic asthma. However, early results from this study led the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to approve omalizumab for food allergies in both adults and children as young as one-year-old.

Understanding the Study

The phase 2 trial included 117 children, with an average age of seven. Each child was allergic to peanuts and at least two other common allergens, such as milk, egg, cashew, wheat, walnut, or hazelnut. By week 44 of the study, they were given test servings equivalent to 20 peanuts or half a cup of milk to evaluate their tolerance.

Children who received only oral immunotherapy had a lower success rate partly because more of them had to drop out due to adverse reactions. The study found that 88 per cent of children treated with omalizumab completed the trial, compared to just 51 per cent of those who underwent oral immunotherapy. Furthermore, none of the omalizumab-treated children experienced severe allergic reactions, whereas more than 30 per cent of those in the oral immunotherapy group did.

A Safer and More Effective Treatment

Dr Robert Wood, the principal investigator and director of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, emphasized the importance of these findings. “This is the first time we’ve been able to directly compare these two treatments for multiple food allergies, and our study shows omalizumab was superior to oral immunotherapy,” he said.

The study also included a phase 3 trial that tracked 60 children who had developed tolerance through omalizumab therapy. They were given one of three options based on their responses: continue eating the food, undergo oral immunotherapy, or avoid the food altogether. Encouragingly, over 80 per cent of the children were assigned to actively eat their formerly allergenic foods.

Preliminary results showed that children had greater success introducing milk, eggs, and wheat into their diets (61 per cent to 70 per cent) compared to peanuts and tree nuts (38 per cent to 56 per cent). However, some children did experience allergic reactions severe enough to require an epinephrine shot. The study is ongoing, with final results expected later this year.

What This Means for Allergy SufferersDr Jennifer Dantzer, a pediatric allergist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, explained the significance of the findings: “Omalizumab is currently approved in the U.S. to reduce allergic reactions from accidental exposures. These results suggest it may have broader applications, but potential risks must be carefully considered.”

Dr Sharon Chinthrajah, another senior researcher in the study, called the results a game changer. “This study is very encouraging because it shows that we have treatment choices for our patients that are safe and not too burdensome.”

Food allergies affect millions of children and adults worldwide, making daily life stressful and even dangerous. This new research suggests that omalizumab could offer a safer, more effective treatment option for children with multiple food allergies. While more research is needed, the preliminary results are promising and could change the way food allergies are managed in the future.

The study was funded by Genentech, the maker of omalizumab. As with all medical research, findings presented at conferences should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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