Finding a Cure for the Peanut Allergy
Peanut allergies affect children and adults all over the world, and the prevalence of the allergy is rising. Many elementary schools have resorted to banning peanuts completely in order to keep children with allergies safe. When individuals with a peanut allergy ingest peanuts, the symptoms can range from a runny nose, itchy throat, and skin inflammation to anaphylactic shock. During anaphylactic shock, which is the most severe reaction to an allergy, the throat swells, blood vessels constrict, and blood pressure drops, preventing the cells in the body from receiving enough oxygen. Currently, the standard medical treatment for peanut allergies includes a strict avoidance of the food. However, accidental exposures can and do occur frequently, leaving those with the allergy vulnerable to a severe reaction.
Immunotherapy is the prevention or treatment of a disease with substances that are designed to stimulate an immune system response. Previous immunotherapy studies have shown that patients are able to increase their allergen threshold by using a method of desensitization, where they are exposed to a slowly increasing amount of allergen in a controlled setting. Currently, immunotherapies include the use of ‘allergy shots’, where the allergen is administered under the skin by a needle. However, many patients are hesitant to commit to this method of immunotherapy because they are required to make frequent visits to the hospital for the shot over a long period of time. In order to alleviate this problem, many researchers are looking into immunotherapy solutions that can be taken orally. AR101 is an oral drug developed by Aimmune Therapeutics that administers 300 mg of peanut protein to the patient when taken daily in the form of a pill. 300 mg is equivalent to the amount of peanut protein in a single peanut. AR101 is currently in its final stage of clinical trials and has the potential to become a new standard in peanut immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy is the prevention or treatment of a disease with substances that are designed to stimulate an immune system response. Previous immunotherapy studies have shown that patients are able to increase their allergen threshold by using a method of desensitization, where they are exposed to a slowly increasing amount of allergen in a controlled setting. Currently, immunotherapies include the use of ‘allergy shots’, where the allergen is administered under the skin by a needle. However, many patients are hesitant to commit to this method of immunotherapy because they are required to make frequent visits to the hospital for the shot over a long period of time. In order to alleviate this problem, many researchers are looking into immunotherapy solutions that can be taken orally. AR101 is an oral drug developed by Aimmune Therapeutics that administers 300 mg of peanut protein to the patient when taken daily in the form of a pill. 300 mg is equivalent to the amount of peanut protein in a single peanut. AR101 is currently in its final stage of clinical trials and has the potential to become a new standard in peanut immunotherapy.
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During these clinical trials, Aimmune conducted studies in multiple locations throughout the United States and Europe on children and adults ages 4-55 who were presented with a peanut allergy. They also created a trial to specifically test the drug in children aged 4-17. Results at the end of this trial showed that 67% of those who had taken the drug over a one-year period were able to tolerate 600 mg of peanut protein, which is equivalent to roughly about two peanuts. However, of the patients that were administered a placebo, only 4% were able to tolerate 600 mg of peanut protein. In addition, about 50% of patients who had taken AR101 were able to tolerate 1000 mg of peanut protein, while only 2.4% of patients who had been administered the placebo could tolerate 1000 mg, which is equivalent to approximately three peanuts. These results indicate that AR101 is effective in increasing a patient’s threshold and tolerance for peanuts. Although it will not truly be able to ‘cure’ an allergy, AR101 can help save lives in emergency situations when patients accidentally consume peanuts.
If the AR101 is approved for clinical use, it could be a game changer for millions of people who suffer from peanut allergies. Patients will no longer have to be paranoid about what foods they consume, and accidental consumption of the allergen won’t be a life-or-death situation. In the future, this technology can be applied to other common food allergens, such as shellfish, soy, or eggs, which will create a safe way to increase allergen tolerance and decrease the chance of an allergic reaction for a variety of different foods.
If the AR101 is approved for clinical use, it could be a game changer for millions of people who suffer from peanut allergies. Patients will no longer have to be paranoid about what foods they consume, and accidental consumption of the allergen won’t be a life-or-death situation. In the future, this technology can be applied to other common food allergens, such as shellfish, soy, or eggs, which will create a safe way to increase allergen tolerance and decrease the chance of an allergic reaction for a variety of different foods.
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