A Treatment for Peanut Allergy
A team of researchers, including ARS scientists at the Food Processing and Sensory Quality Research Laboratory in New Orleans, LA, is on the cusp of releasing the world's first treatment for peanut allergy. For some, the mere mention of peanuts may cause the mouth to water, while for others it may elicit a cold sweat. According to Food Allergy Research & Education, approximately 4 percent of adults and 8 percent of children are allergic to some type of foods, including peanuts, and could suffer from anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction.
In an effort to reduce peanut allergies, the team of researchers developed an oral immunotherapy drug, which has passed Phase 3 clinical trials and is nearing final approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The therapy drug desensitizes patients so they will not have an allergic reaction to small amounts of peanuts over time. Patients receive capsules that contain specific amounts of peanut powder, minuscule at first, but increasing gradually until they can tolerate 300 milligrams, roughly equal to one peanut. This therapy is effective only for peanut allergies.
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