Testing the Efficacy of Epicutaneous Immunotherapy in Treating Peanut Allergy in Toddlers: Phase 3 Trial Results
If peanut allergy can be likened to a time bomb that could trigger anaphylaxis anytime, anywhere, and to any degree, then any new therapy that comes in the pipeline would undoubtedly be of enormous interest to millions of people globally. After several years of research and clinical trials, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the application of the epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) to treat peanut allergy in toddlers. This article provides the details of phase 3 trial results carried out by the researchers to test the efficacy of EPIT in treating peanut allergy in toddlers.
What is EPIT?
Epicutaneous immunotherapy is a form of allergy immunotherapy treatment that involves the application of the allergens on the skin’s surface. In the case of peanut allergy, a patch containing the peanut allergens is placed usually on the arm to desensitize the immune system to peanuts. The peanut patch therapy activates the immune cells in the skin that informs the immune system to become selective about recognizing peanut allergens.
The Testing of EPIT in Treating Peanut Allergy in Toddlers: The Phase 3 Trial Results
The clinical trial involved 356 children aged 1-3 years with confirmed peanut allergy from the United States, Canada, and Europe. The children were randomly assigned to two groups, with one group receiving a peanut patch containing an active ingredient, and the other group received a placebo patch. After 54 weeks of treatment, the children in the active-ingredient group were three times more likely to tolerate peanut products than those in the placebo group. 67.2% of the children who received the peanut patch could tolerate at least 1g of peanut protein, compared to 4.0% who received the placebo patch. In addition, 50.3% of the children on the active therapy could consume at least 3g of peanut protein as against 2.4% of the placebo group.
Safety Profile
One of the significant concerns of allergy immunotherapy is how safe it is. The study also revealed that peanut patch application had a favorable safety profile overall, with no serious treatment-related adverse events reported during the entire duration of the study.
Summarily, peanut allergy remains a substantial burden on affected individuals and their families, with the risk of accidental exposure and subsequent anaphylaxis always lurking. There are no FDA-approved treatments for peanut allergies in toddlers until the recent approval of the peanut patch therapy. The results of the phase 3 trial of the epicutaneous immunotherapy have shown that the therapy is not only effective but also safe to administer. EPIT could become a cornerstone in the treatment and management of peanut allergy in toddlers, thereby providing a ray of hope against this severe allergy. #EPIT #peanutallergy #immunotherapy #toddlers #Phase3Results #patchtherapy. #HEALTH