Severe peanut allergies are a scary reality many parents face. Treats, restaurants, and airplanes are minefields to navigate. This is especially true for parents of young children under the age of 4, who historically have not had any treatments to work to improve these allergies. This might be about to change.
A new late-stage study of a patch called Viaskin has shown promising results. This patch was able to help many who participated in the study develop a higher tolerance for peanuts, which would help prevent accidental exposures from being a life-threatening incident. Parents could potentially breathe easier if this gets FDA approval.
On Wednesday, May 10, 2023, the trial’s findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The trial had 200 young participants with peanut allergies from the ages of 1 to 3. They wore the patch for 22 hours a day. Of the 200 participants, 67% grew to be able to tolerate 300 to 1,000 milligrams of peanut protein. This is about one to four peanuts.
Dr. Matthew Greenhawt wrote the study’s findings. He is also director of the Food Challenge and Research Unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He was both impressed with the product and also surprised.
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“Amazingly, not only did it raise the amount of peanut [tolerance] in these children, but the nature of the reaction also changed. There was a decrease in the number of severe reactions,” he explained.
Viaskin is made by the pharmaceutical company DBV Technologies. The patch works by delivering a very small dose of peanut protein to the patient who wears a new patch between their shoulder blades daily. The body’s immune cells work to disperse this throughout the body and handles the reaction.
This product would fill a gap in the treatment of peanut allergies for young patients, as there is no FDA-approved one for kids under the age of 4. Those ages 4 to 17 can benefit from Palforzia, a powder that can be mixed in foods and works similarly to the patch. Viaskin is a needed addition to the market.
Dr. Pharis Mohideen, DBV Technologies’ chief medical officer, discussed the goals of the Viaskin, which is to give parents peace of mind. It will not fully get rid of the allergy but will make it so it is not an emergency situation when peanuts are accidentally ingested.
“We’re trying to build a protective layer for them so that if there is an accidental peanut exposure, they won’t have a reaction, or that reaction will be very mild and not send them to the emergency room,” he said.
“If a label says ‘may contain peanuts,’ but you know you can tolerate a full peanut kernel, the likelihood that that product is safe is pretty high,” he added. It opens up more culinary options. Diets will not have to be so restrictive.
Peanut allergies are extremely common and on the rise, which means the need for this product is greater than ever. In the United States alone, 1 in 50 kids have one. Around 20% of them will eventually outgrow it, but it makes childhood a bit more dangerous, and no one needs that.
*Disclaimer: The advice on LittleThings.com is not a substitute for consultation with a medical professional or treatment for a specific condition. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem without consulting a qualified professional. Please contact your health-care provider with questions and concerns.
