The study, led by Dr. Sharon Chinthrajah, Associate Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Stanford Medicine, involved 177 children aged between 4 and 15 years old. Participants were divided into two groups, with two-thirds receiving omalizumab injections and one-third receiving a placebo. The trial took place at various locations, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and beyond.
The results showed that approximately 67% of children who received the omalizumab injections could tolerate the equivalent of two or three peanuts without experiencing moderate to severe symptoms, compared to only 7% of those who received the placebo. Furthermore, the drug proved effective in combatting symptoms caused by various common allergens, such as milk, eggs, wheat, cashews, hazelnuts, and walnuts.
Omalizumab works by binding to allergic antibodies, removing them from circulation and thereby interrupting the inflammatory cascade responsible for allergic reactions. This mechanism provides a valuable alternative to traditional strategies, which primarily involve avoiding risky foods and relying on oral immunotherapy, a lengthy and sometimes risky desensitization process.