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A preventative treatment for peanut allergies may be on the way.
California-based Aimmune Therapeutics revealed daily capsules of peanut powder helped children build tolerance in a major experimental study.
The study involved 500 children aged between four and 17 with allergies who were either given a daily dose of peanut, in the form of a capsule or sprinkled over food, in gradual increments over a six month period. Others were given a dummy capsule. This final amount then continued for another six months.
“Aimmune Therapeutics said 67 per cent of kids who had its experimental treatment were able to tolerate the equivalent of roughly two peanuts at the end of the study, compared to only 4 per cent of others given a dummy powder,” the ABC reports.
Despite the results, Dr Stacie Jones, a University of Arkansas allergy specialist, who helped lead the study warned parents to avoid trying this at home.
“It’s potentially dangerous,” said Dr Jones. Adding, “This is investigational” and had “to be done in a very safe setting” so the children could receive immediate treatment if needed.
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