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Approximately 4.6 million adults in the United States have a peanut allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In 2021.
Patrick Sison/AP
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Patrick Sison/AP
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Approximately 4.6 million adults in the United States have a peanut allergy. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology In 2021.
Patrick Sison/AP
Milk, eggs, walnuts, peanuts – this is not a grocery list, but these are some food allergies that may be easier to tolerate with newly approved medications.
Xolair, developed by Genentech, received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday to help reduce serious allergic reactions resulting from accidental exposure to certain foods. It is considered the first drug approved by the FDA that may help protect people from several food allergies.
This medication is not intended for use during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is designed to be taken repeatedly every few weeks to help reduce the risk of a reaction over time. The FDA said people taking this medication should continue to avoid foods they are allergic to.
“While we cannot eliminate food allergies or allow patients to freely consume food allergens, repeated use will help reduce the health effects of accidental exposure,” said Kelly Stone of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. .
The most common side effects include fever and injection site reactions. The drug also warns that the drug itself may cause anaphylaxis. Genentech recommends that health care providers monitor people who begin using Xolair.
According to the Associated Press, the drug costs $2,900 per month for children and $5,000 per month for adults. However, it is said that costs can be lowered through insurance.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of 2021, approximately 1 in 16 American adults suffer from food allergies, affecting women and Black adults at higher rates. There is currently no cure for food allergies.
Xolair is already approved by the FDA to treat some cases of persistent asthma caused by allergies, chronic urticaria, and chronic inflammatory sinus disease with nasal polyps.
The drug is given by injection every 2 to 4 weeks. Over time, Xolair has been proven to help some people tolerate foods they are allergic to, according to a study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
In a trial of 168 patients allergic to peanuts and at least two other foods, 68% of those who took Xolair for four to five months were able to consume about 2.5 peanuts without symptoms such as hives, persistent cough, or vomiting. I could do it. FDA.
The study also found that Xolair was effective in 67% of people with egg allergies after 4 to 5 months. 66% of people are allergic to milk. 42% of people are allergic to cashews. According to Genentech, these results are based on small portions of each food: 1/4 egg, 2 tablespoons of 1% milk, or 3.5 cashew nuts.