The FDA approved the first drug to stop allergic reactions in children and adults after accidentally consuming certain foods.
This medication is not intended to treat anaphylaxis or other emergencies.
According to experts, this approval could have a significant impact on children and their families.
The US Food and Drug Administration has announced that XolairTrustedSource, an injectable drug named TrustedSource, can now be used as a preventative measure after accidental exposure to allergy-triggering foods.
The FDA has approved the first drug to reduce the risk of allergic reactions after accidental exposure to multiple foods.
Xolair is a generic drug with the name omalizumab that was introduced to the market in 2003. It has previously been approved for treating asthma, chronic sinusitis, hives, and other conditions.
The drug helped 68% of people avoid a serious allergic reaction.
In a clinical study with 168 participants, 68% were able, after receiving Xolair, to tolerate 2.5 peanuts of allergen without experiencing a significant reaction.
The drug is only approved for those over the age of one.
Dr. Dr.
Ganjian compares the medication with “a sponge,” which prevents Immunoglobulin E (IgE) from reaching the receptor, causing an allergic response.
IgE-mediated foods include fish, milk, tree nuts, and soy. The study that supported this new use of Xolair also tested against cashews and milk.
“We don’t have to resign ourselves to having to deal eventually with allergies and be scared for our children when they go to the house of their friends. [Having to] ask, “What’s in that cake?” What are they going eat? So, this is good,” Ganjian said.
The medication helps people who have been accidentally exposed to allergens but does not cure food allergies.
Xolair does not replace an emergency treatment such as epinephrine.
Who is the best candidate to take Xolair?
Dr. Daniel DiGiacomo is an assistant professor of medicine at Hackensack Meridian and works as a pediatrician at K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital. He says the goals that a family and patient have will determine whether a treatment such as Xolair is right for them.
DiGiacomo is a specialist in allergy and immunology. He worked in a center with patients involved in the study in a former job. In his practice, he says, a patient will go through a series of steps before Xolair is considered as a treatment option.
There’s also a need for other education and shared decision-making,” DiGiacomo explained.
It can involve multiple visits, skin and blood tests, and educating the patient about allergens and emergency treatment options in case of a severe reaction.
Alternatives to reduce food allergies
Xolair may not be the only product on the market to help people reduce their allergy risks.
Palforzia, or peanut allergen, is available to those aged between 4 and 17. However, it reduces only the risk of a negative reaction to nuts, as opposed to Xolair’s broader application.
Ganjian says there are still areas to be explored in order to understand better how Xolair could help patients. These areas will require further research.
“There is a variety of allergists and programs that desensitize the children, but it can take up to a year,” Ganjian explained. “Allergists may use this along with desensitization protocol to help the child desensitize faster.” We need to investigate this in the future.
Also, side effects should always be considered. The FDA warns that this medication comes with anaphylaxis warnings, and those who have “hypersensitivity” should not take it.
Ganjian believes that having treatment options that broaden the protection is a positive move forward.
When I see children with allergies, it is usually multiple food allergies and multiple triggers. Ganjian stated that he needed something better and more flexible to work with a wider range of foods.
Takeaway
FDA approved a drug that can help treat food allergies. The study found that 68% of those taking the drug Xolair could tolerate 2.5 peanuts of allergens without experiencing a severe allergic reaction.
