We are in the midst of a food allergy epidemic.
In the United States, an estimated 32 million have a serious, potentially life-threatening food allergy. The number of emergency claims for treating anaphylaxis to food increased by 377% from 2007 to 2016.
There are no approved treatments for food allergy. Allergists advise patients to avoid problem foods and always carry epinephrine to treat dangerous symptoms. However, according to a recent survey of food allergy patients, more than half reported mental health concerns related to anxiety because of this.
The good news is that hope is on the horizon. Prospects for food allergy treatment are at various stages of development.
Allergen immunotherapies
Many allergy treatments involve giving patients the food proteins they’re allergic to, starting with tiny amounts, and raising the dose over time to increase tolerance. For some, immunotherapy successfully retrains their immune system — they can tolerate the food they were allergic to even after stopping treatment. Others can still tolerate allergens as long as they eat the food each day after completing oral immunotherapy. Some patients remain sensitive to their allergen and some leave treatment due to adverse reactions including hives, swelling, and vomiting.
Methods for food allergen immunotherapies can include eating the problem food, placing dissolved food protein under the tongue, and absorbing food protein from a patch on the skin. Nasal spray food protein vaccines are being studied in mice. Researchers have also safety tested a vaccine containing peanut DNA in adults. Two peanut protein immunotherapies have completed clinical trials and another is being reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval.
Other developments
Researchers have made remarkable progress recently in developing anti-allergy drugs created from immune proteins called antibodies. These biologic drugs specifically block the chain of events that cause allergy symptoms. Some are already approved to treat other allergic diseases like asthma and eczema, and they are now being tested to treat food allergies, both as standalone treatments and in combination with food-allergen immunotherapies. This is a pivotal moment in food allergy research. We have never been closer to offering effective treatments, and the need for those treatments has never been greater. Investing in innovative therapies, diagnostics, and prevention will pay dividends in protecting public health.
Written by:
Thomas Casale, M.D.,
Chief Medical Advisor for Operations, Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE)
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