'It's a potential cure': Breakthrough in deadly peanut allergy
A breakthrough cure for peanut allergies may be just around the corner on the back of a multi-million dollar investment.
Still the most common cause of anaphylactic shock, Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has poured $8 million into a treatment that gradually introduces sufferers to small doses of peanuts and probiotics.
“Peanut allergies are a massive problem and this is an innovative approach. There’s a clear path to a marketable product here that could have tremendous impact globally,” OneVentures managing partner Paul Kelly told The Australian.
“It’s a potential cure.”
The results have seen an overwhelming response after a randomised trial of 62 children, aged between 1-10 were given small doses of peanut flour over many months.
Combined with a probiotic called Lactobacillus rhamnosus, 82 per cent of the participants were able to tolerate the equivalent of up to 16 peanuts within 18 months of the treatment.
“These findings provide the vital first step towards developing a cure for peanut allergy and possibly for all food allergies,” Lead Professor Mimi Tang told the Herald Sun.
“It will change the lives completely for children and adults who have peanut allergies.”
Parents are advised to introduce foods that commonly cause allergies to their children at around 4-6 months and pregnant women should not avoid them.
“We think early introduction might optimise the chance of tolerance to the food,” Prof Tang said.
“I expect that this treatment can be available broadly to all children in the future."
Allergy and Anaphylaxis Australia figures show three in every 100 Australian children suffer from a peanut allergy.
The figures also show just 20 per cent of those children outgrow the allergy.
