Food Allergy News and Research

On Jan. 31, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its approval of Aimmune Therapeutics’ peanut treatment, Palforzia, for children ages 4 to 17. This is big news for the food allergy community. Food allergies put a significant mental, social and financial burden on families. Until now, strict avoidance has been the only way to avoid allergic reactions. Palforzia may give many families managing peanut allergies more freedom and greater quality of life.

DBV Technologies, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced positive topline results of the three-year, open-label extension of the Phase III PEPITES trial (PEOPLE) evaluating the long-term efficacy and safety of investigational Viaskin® Peanut in peanut-allergic children ages 4 to 11 years. The results demonstrate long-term clinical benefit as shown by an increase in eliciting dose (ED), which may decrease the chance of reacting to an accidental peanut exposure.

On Dec. 16, 2019, Congress released a spending package to keep the government funded for 2020. This plan includes two big wins for food allergy research.

Congratulations to New York and the family of Giovanni Cipriano on the passing of Gio's Law. Gio's Law, S3247B, authorizes certain New York emergency service providers to be trained to treat anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction, and carry epinephrine in their vehicles.

Despite overall low adherence to the early introduction regimen, early introduction to allergenic solids was found to be effective in preventing the development of food allergies in specific groups of infants; those sensitized to food at enrollment and those with eczema of increasing severity at enrollment. These results originate from “Efficacy of the EAT study amongst infants at high risk of developing food allergy,” a new paper published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Creative Food Processing Recalls Poultry Products Due to Misbranding and Undeclared Allergens Class II Recall Release: 112-2019 Health Risk: Low Date: Nov 13, 2019 Congressional and Public Affairs Buck McKay (202) 720-9113 FSISpress@usda.gov WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2019 – Creative Food Processing, a Santa Clara, Calif. establishment is recalling approximately 1,941 pounds of raw chicken products due to misbranding and undeclared allergens, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and...

We know that children with pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS) also suffer from seasonal allergies. A new study being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Houston shows that allergy shots (subcutaneous immunotherapy) can be effective in reducing PFAS symptoms for pediatric patients.

Oral food challenges (OFCs) are the gold standard for allergists when diagnosing a food allergy. The person being tested is given a very small dose of the food by mouth under the supervision of a board-certified allergist to test for a severe reaction. Two medically challenging cases being presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Houston contain new information on the benefits of OFCs when diagnosing food allergies.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) recently exhibited at the 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) conference. We learned the latest news in pediatrics and food allergies. We also spoke with doctors about the food allergy and asthma programs and services we offer. Kids With Food Allergies (KFA) is a division of AAFA.

Investigators at the National Institutes of Health have found that sesame allergy is common among children with other food allergies, occurring in an estimated 17% of this population. In addition, the scientists have found that sesame antibody testing—whose utility has been controversial—accurately predicts whether a child with food allergy is allergic to sesame. The research was published on Oct. 28 in the journal Pediatric Allergy and Immunology.

New research suggests that giving antihistamine medicine to a child experiencing anaphylaxis--a sudden and severe allergic reaction that can quickly be fatal--usually does more harm than good by delaying emergency treatment.

DBV Technologies, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted for review the Biologics License Application (BLA) for its investigational Viaskin® Peanut immunotherapy for the treatment of peanut-allergic children ages 4 to 11 years. Viaskin Peanut is the Company’s lead product candidate designed to potentially reduce the risk of life-threatening allergic reactions due to accidental exposure to peanuts.