Assessing Omalizumab Efficacy in Treating Multiple Food Allergies
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
Translated by Nhi Phuong Quynh Le, B.A |
Posted on April 10th, 2024
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Food allergy is a common condition that affects individuals of all ages, with many of them having allergies to multiple types of food. Currently, only peanut allergy is treatable with oral immunotherapy but it is associated with many adverse events and cannot address multiple types of food allergies. Omalizumab is an antibody that can neutralize IgE and has been approved for treating allergic asthma and urticaria. Thus, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases had funded a study to assess the usage of Omalizumab in treating multiple food allergies.
The phase 3 clinical trial enrolled 180 children, averaging around 7 years old, who exhibited allergic reactions not only to peanuts but also to a minimum of 2 other foods from a specified list including cashew, milk, egg, walnut, wheat, and hazelnut. Food allergies were confirmed through a skin prick test. Random assignment allocated participants to receive either Omalizumab or a placebo. Subcutaneous administration occurred every 2 to 4 weeks over a span of 16 to 20 weeks, with Omalizumab dosage tailored to each participant's weight and IgE levels. Findings revealed that 67% of those administered Omalizumab could ingest 600 mg of peanut protein without exhibiting any allergic symptoms, a notably higher proportion than the 7% observed in the placebo group. Moreover, Omalizumab demonstrated significant efficacy in mitigating allergic reactions post-ingestion challenges involving 1000 mg of cashew, milk, and egg, alongside the peanut allergen.
The phase 3 clinical trial enrolled 180 children, averaging around 7 years old, who exhibited allergic reactions not only to peanuts but also to a minimum of 2 other foods from a specified list including cashew, milk, egg, walnut, wheat, and hazelnut. Food allergies were confirmed through a skin prick test. Random assignment allocated participants to receive either Omalizumab or a placebo. Subcutaneous administration occurred every 2 to 4 weeks over a span of 16 to 20 weeks, with Omalizumab dosage tailored to each participant's weight and IgE levels. Findings revealed that 67% of those administered Omalizumab could ingest 600 mg of peanut protein without exhibiting any allergic symptoms, a notably higher proportion than the 7% observed in the placebo group. Moreover, Omalizumab demonstrated significant efficacy in mitigating allergic reactions post-ingestion challenges involving 1000 mg of cashew, milk, and egg, alongside the peanut allergen.