ATLANTA — The world was all abuzz recently when the results of a study on the novel epicutaneous immunotherapy (aka EPIT or the “peanut patch”) to treat toddlers with peanut allergy was published in The New England Journal of Medicine called Phase 3 Trial of Epicutaneous Immunotherapy in Toddlers with Peanut Allergy. The study was a randomized controlled trial including 362 patients 1-3 years of age and found that treatment with the patch resulted in 67% of children in the intervention group successfully achieving the primary end point (being able to eat substantially more peanut without reaction). Limitations of the study include exclusion of patients with a history of severe peanut anaphylaxis, lack of racial diversity among patients, the duration of treatment is not known and was not assessed in this study. This is still an experimental treatment available only in research settings and more research is needed. Epicutaneous immunotherapy is not a cure for peanut allergy but may reduce the risk of anaphylaxis upon accidental ingestion of peanut containing foods.
Sherry Coleman Collins (SCC), registered dietitian nutritionist and food allergy dietitian, recently interviewed the study’s primary investigator (PI) via email, Dr. Matthew Greenhawt (MG) of Children’s Hospital Colorado. Part of the novelty of this study, is that it was done in toddlers, aged 1-3 years of age. According to Dr. Greenhawt, “Growing evidence from early introduction studies suggests that the allergic immune system is more modifiable early in life. Peanut allergy is commonly diagnosed very early in life, and fewer than 29% will naturally outgrow peanut allergy by age 6. There are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment options for toddlers under 4 years old.”
While preventing peanut allergies remains best practice and feeding babies peanut foods in the first year of life is an effective intervention, there will still be some children who may develop peanut allergies before they are fed peanut foods. In addition, there are many children currently living with peanut allergies. Having effective options available for treatment is important. NPB will continue to follow this and other emerging research to treat peanut allergies.
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–Sherry Coleman Collins, National Peanut Board