A recent investigation suggests that the asthma treatment Xolair could significantly diminish severe allergic reactions in individuals with multiple food allergies who experience accidental exposure to those allergens.
Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration broadened its approval of omalizumab, marketed as Xolair, to encompass individuals with food allergies following an interim analysis of the study.
Experts note that by incorporating various foods into the study, researchers were able to ascertain that Xolair might potentially mitigate allergic reactions in cases where an individual consumes multiple allergenic foods simultaneously.
Xolair Cuts Acute Reactions in Food Allergies
Xolair does not serve as a remedy for food allergies, nor is it suitable for addressing acute allergic reactions.
Individuals prescribed Xolair must continue to abstain from consuming foods to which they are allergic.
However, Xolair can substantially diminish the likelihood of individuals with severe food allergies experiencing acute reactions upon ingesting minimal quantities of allergens, such as peanuts or eggs in processed foods, or being exposed to trace amounts through other means.
Xolair is a synthetic antibody designed to bind with immunoglobulin-E, a constituent of the immune system, thereby impeding its ability to activate crucial immune cells involved in triggering allergic responses.
Who Gains the Most from Xolair?
Xolair provides protection against the majority of severe allergic reactions, particularly those triggered by immunoglobulin-E.
The medication may offer the greatest advantages to individuals contending with allergies to numerous foods, necessitating constant avoidance, which can present significant challenges, as well as those consuming food frequently prepared by others, such as college students on meal plans.
It is authorized for use in adults and children aged 1 and above. (Infants under the age of 1 were not part of the clinical trial.)
A drawback of the medication is its requirement for administration via injection, typically administered in the arm.
These injections are administered every two or four weeks, with dosing intervals customized to suit the individual patient.