Oral immunotherapy with antibody-based medication could be used to treat multiple food allergies

By combining standard desensitization of up to five food allergies with antibody-based medication omalizumab, it may be possible to treat multiple food allergies in a shorter timeframe. This is according to a Phase 1 trial, with 25 patients, published in open access journal Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology. Food allergies affect up to 8% of children in the US, and 30% of those affected have more than one allergy. It has been estimated that food allergies cost US$25 billion each year, with approximately US$20 million borne by patients' families.