A clinical trial indicates that a wearable skin patch, known as Viaskin, developed in collaboration with researchers at University College Cork (UCC) and DBV Technologies, shows promise in mitigating allergic reactions in toddlers with peanut allergies. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the patch significantly increased the amount of peanut protein children could tolerate.
Trial Results
The trial involved 362 toddlers from eight countries, with 244 participants randomly assigned to wear the Viaskin patch between their shoulder blades. Results showed that 67% of children aged one to three who wore the patch for a year were able to safely ingest more peanut protein than at the beginning of the trial. Specifically, these children could tolerate between 300 to 1,000 milligrams of peanut protein, equivalent to one to four peanuts.
Expert Commentary
Alkis Togias, chief of the Allergy, Asthma, and Airway Biology Branch at the US National Institutes of Health, noted that the results are "very good news for toddlers and their families as the next step toward a future with more treatments for food allergies," in an accompanying editorial.
The Need for New Treatments
Peanut allergy is the most common food allergy in children in Europe, with limited treatment options available, and none CE-approved for children younger than four. It is estimated that only one in five children will outgrow the condition. The standard approach involves strict avoidance of peanut-based products, which can be challenging due to accidental exposures in various settings.
Irish Involvement
The trial was conducted in Ireland by the HRB Clinical Research Facility at UCC. Dr. Juan Trujillo, a pediatric allergist at Cork University Hospital and the principal investigator of the trial in Ireland, stated, "These results are encouraging and give new hope to toddlers and their families who currently have no approved treatment options and who must instead focus on avoidance, which can impact quality of life."
Safety Considerations
Anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction, occurred in approximately 7.8% of patients who wore the patch; four of these reactions were deemed treatment-related. This highlights the importance of careful monitoring and management during treatment.
Implications
The Viaskin patch offers a potential alternative to strict avoidance, which can significantly impact the quality of life for children and their families. Further research is needed to fully determine the long-term efficacy and safety of the patch, but these initial results provide a promising step forward in the treatment of peanut allergies in young children.
