Despite advances in single-food desensitizing oral immunotherapy, there is little evidence for the effectiveness of treating people with multiple food allergies.
Combining an antibody with immunotherapy can help with multi-food allergies. A study has just tested the association between an anti-IgE antibody (omalizumab) and oral immunotherapy (OIT). The effect was positive for patients allergic to several fruits. Combining an initial 16-week treatment of the drug omalizumab with OIT greatly improves the health of children with allergies. After 36 weeks, more than 80% of those who received omalizumab and the ILO could safely consume two-gram servings of two or more foods to which they were allergic, compared with only one-third of children who received omalizumab. placebo and the ILO.
Desensitize quickly
Almost 30% of people with food allergy are allergic to more than one food. The study results build on previous work suggesting that omalizumab, an injectable drug approved to treat moderate to severe allergic asthma, may improve the safety and effectiveness of OIT for allergies to a only food. Omalizumab blocks the activity of IgE, a molecule of the immune system central to the allergic response.
The results suggest the potential benefits of using omalizumab to safely and quickly facilitate desensitization to multiple food allergens.
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