Xolair, an injectable asthma and chronic hive medication, may prevent severe food allergies in children, according to a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) research.
The NAID study followed 165 children and three adults with food allergies, including peanuts and other foods. Experts found that ;articipants who received Xolair injections were able to eat more peanuts, eggs, milk, and pistachios without experiencing allergic reactions than those who received placebos, according to a report from People.
A Breakthrough Finding
Xolair, also known as omalizumab, is given to patients using pre-filled syringes, which allow them to inject themselves into their stomachs or quadriceps, or they can get injections into their arms by caretakers. The medicine significantly increased the amount of food that children and adolescents could eat without having adverse reactions, according to the study's findings.
In June, research indicated that food allergies affect about 6% of adults and children in the US, with people of color being more vulnerable. The severity of allergic responses can vary from mild symptoms like sore lips to severe conditions like shock and restriction of the airways. Many food allergy sufferers use Epinephrine-eluting devices (EPIPens), which relax airways during allergic responses.
A preventive medication, Xolair has the potential to significantly reduce the risk of fatal reactions caused by inadvertent ingestion of allergenic constituents in takeout or prepackaged foods, thereby sparing the lives of individuals with food allergies.
Despite Xolair's fascinating potential benefits in preventing severe food allergies, the medication's prescription problems and its high cost makes it currently unaffordable for many, according to Men's Journal. It is expected that these concerns could be mitigated through FDA approval, thereby increasing the accessibility and affordability of the medication. Nevertheless, further comprehensive clinical testing is necessary before reaching any conclusive findings.
Experts Look Forward to Xolair's FDA Approval as Severe Allergy Treatment
Dr. Joyce Yu, a pediatric allergy and immunology expert at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, expressed excitement about the drug's possible FDA clearance, saying it might make doctors' and kids' lives less difficult, per NBC News.
Dr. Cosby Stone of Vanderbilt University Medical Center explained that Xolair, an artificial antibody, functions by inhibiting IgE, an immune system component responsible for inducing allergic responses. If given the go-ahead, Xolair has the potential to be a beneficial alternative for guardians of allergic children, especially toddlers, who are notoriously difficult to protect from possible allergen exposure. Although preliminary findings from cohort studies suggest that it may have protective properties, scientists anxiously await results from a randomized controlled trial to confirm its effectiveness.
While the FDA has not commented on the drug's approval status, the recent declaration by the NIAID and drugmakers Genentech and Novartis regarding priority review for Xolair indicates progress in the regulatory procedure. It is expected that the medical journal will publish the trial's comprehensive findings in late January or early February.
