AAAAI: Omalizumab Superior to Placebo for Those With Multiple Food Allergies
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Feb. 26, 2024 -- Omalizumab treatment for 16 weeks is superior to placebo for increasing the reaction threshold for peanut and other food allergens among persons with multiple food allergies, according to a study published online Feb. 25 in the New England Journal of Medicine to coincide with the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, held from Feb. 23 to 26 in Washington, D.C.
Robert A. Wood, M.D., from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues examined whether omalizumab would be effective and safe as monotherapy for patients with multiple food allergies. Individuals aged 1 to 55 years who were allergic to peanuts and at least two other trial-specified foods were screened; 180 were then randomly assigned to receive either omalizumab or placebo administered subcutaneously every two to four weeks for 16 to 20 weeks (118 and 59 participants, respectively).
The researchers found that 67 and 7 percent of participants receiving omalizumab and placebo, respectively, met the primary end-point criteria (ingestion of peanut protein in a single dose of 600 mg or more without dose-limiting symptoms). Results of the key secondary end points (consumption of cashew, milk, and egg in single doses of at least 1,000 mg each without dose-limiting symptoms) were consistent with those of the primary end point (cashew: 41 versus 3 percent; milk: 66 versus 10 percent; egg: 68 versus 0 percent).
"Omalizumab treatment for 16 weeks was superior to placebo in increasing the reaction threshold for peanut, cashew, egg, and milk," the authors write.
The study was funded by Novartis and Genentech, the manufacturers of omalizumab.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2024
Read this next
Most Families Exclude Food Allergens From Their Household
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 -- Most families choose to exclude food allergens from their households, and those that do report more food allergy (FA)-related concerns, according to a...
Study IDs Specific Anaphylactic Triggers Linked to Symptoms, Treatment
THURSDAY, Dec. 26, 2024 -- Specific anaphylactic triggers are associated with symptoms and treatments, according to a study published online Nov. 15 in the International Archives...
Frito-Lay Recalls Lay's Chips Due to Milk Allergy Concerns
FRIDAY, Dec. 20, 2024 -- Frito-Lay has recalled select 13-oz bags of Lay's Classic Potato Chips due to undeclared milk, which could pose a serious risk to those with milk...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.