Asthma Medication Xolair May Reduce Peanut Allergies, New Study Finds

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A peanut allergy can be a difficult and terrifying thing to live with.

People with these allergies have to be on constant alert, as coming into contact with even a small amount of the food can cause a severe reaction. Thousands of Americans live with these allergies, and they are responsible for a similar number of emergency room visits. Typically, the best way to treat a peanut is to just avoid them altogether, which can be difficult due to how common nuts and nut oils are used in cooking.

A recent announcement from Novartis, however, may make life a lot easier (and much less scary) for people living with these allergies.

Novartis released that data from a new study which suggests that asthma medication Xolair can be used to treat certain food allergies, including nuts, eggs, milk, and wheat.¹ Patients who used the medication were able to consume higher amounts of these food without triggering an allergic reaction. FDA has approved the medication for adults and children with allergies.

The study was sponsored by the National Institute of Health and was named the OUtMATCH study. Phase III trials of the study recently concluded, and the results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

The study included 180 patients with an age range of 1-to-55 years old. These patients were allergic to peanuts and would have a reaction when exposed to at least 100 mg of peanut protein. Each subject also had at least two other food allergies. After 16-to-20 weeks of treatment with Xolair, each patient was asked to consume 600 mg of peanut protein along with 1,000 mg of a secondary allergy protein.

Patients who did not receive the placebo were more likely to be able to consume these items without suffering from a moderate to severe allergic reaction.

In a press release, principal investigator of the OUtMATCH study Robert Wood, M.D. said, “Over the past 35 years, I have seen how debilitating food allergies can be for patients and their loved ones, as they are consumed by the fear of accidental exposure. While allergic reactions to exposures are common and often severe, there have been limited treatment advancements for food allergy. The results of the OUtMATCH study showed that anti-IgE therapy could significantly reduce the occurrence of allergic reactions across multiple foods in the event of an accidental exposure."

Wood is also the director of the Eudowood Division of Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.

In the same release, OUtMATCH co-lead study investigator and associate professor of medicine, Stanford School of Medicine, Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research R. Sharon Chinthrajah, M.D. said, “Living with food allergies has a profound impact on patients and their families, causing significant stress and requiring constant vigilance. The OUtMATCH study demonstrated that anti-IgE therapy increased most patients' threshold for an allergic reaction. This presents an important new treatment option for patients and families in its potential to reduce the risk of allergic reactions from accidental exposures they may face in day-to-day life."

Source

1. New England Journal of Medicine publishes Phase III data showing Xolair® (omalizumab) significantly reduced allergic reactions across multiple foods in people with food allergies. DNA/Novartis Pharmaceuticals Coporations. February 25, 2024. Accessed February 26, 2024.