NIH clinical trial conducted at Arkansas Children’s Hospital develops first FDA-approved treatment for multiple severe food allergies
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A clinical trial sponsored and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and conducted at Arkansas Children’s Hospital revealed a treatment helping children and adults better tolerate potentially life-threatening food allergies to things like peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and tree nuts.
The study examined 177 children and teens, and three adults. They took injections every two to four weeks over a five-month period. All patients were allergic to peanuts and at least two other foods.
According to Dr. Stacie Jones, one of the principal doctors conducting the study revealed that omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody, reduces allergic reactions in children and adolescents if they accidentally eat a food they were allergic to.
In addition, nearly 67% of study participants who received omalizumab could eat the equivalent of 2.5 peanuts without a moderate or severe allergic reaction, compared to less than 7% of those who received a placebo. The researchers also observed similar outcomes for study participants allergic to milk, egg, walnut, wheat, cashew and hazelnut.
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Since then, the FDA approved omalizumab for the reduction of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, making the study a success.
For more information on this study or future studies, visit ARChildrens.org.
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