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About 4.6 million U.S. adults have a peanut allergy, according to a study published by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2021.
Patrick Sison/AP
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Patrick Sison/AP
About 4.6 million U.S. adults have a peanut allergy, according to a study published by the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 2021.
Patrick Sison/AP
Milk, eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts: This is not a shopping list, but rather some of the food allergies that might be more easily tolerated with a newly approved medication.
Xolair, developed by Genentech, was green light by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday to help reduce serious allergic reactions caused by accidental exposure to certain foods. It is considered the first FDA-approved medication that can help protect people against multiple food allergies.
The medication is not intended for use during an allergic reaction. Instead, it is designed to be taken repeatedly every few weeks to help reduce the risk of reactions over time. The FDA said people taking the drug should continue to avoid foods to which they are allergic.
“While it will not eliminate food allergies or allow patients to consume food allergens freely, repeated use will help reduce the health impact if accidental exposure occurs,” said Kelly Stone of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the FDA.
Some of the most common side effects include fever and a reaction at the injection site. The medication also warns that the medication itself can trigger anaphylaxis. Genentech recommends that a healthcare provider monitor a person who starts using Xolair.
The cost of the medication ranges from $2,900 per month for children to $5,000 per month for adults, although the cost could be reduced with insurance, according to the Associated Press.
As of 2021, about 1 in 16 adults in the U.S. has a food allergy, affecting women and Black adults at higher rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There is currently no cure for food allergies.
Xolair has already been approved by the FDA to treat some cases of persistent asthma caused by allergies, chronic hives, and chronic inflammatory sinus disease with nasal polyps.
The medication is given by injection every two to four weeks. Over time, Xolair has been shown to help some people tolerate foods they are allergic to, according to a study sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
In a trial of 168 patients allergic to peanuts and at least two other foods, 68% of people who took Xolair for 4 to 5 months were able to consume about 2.5 peanuts without symptoms such as hives, persistent cough or vomiting, according to the FDA.
The study also found that Xolair was effective after 4 to 5 months in 67% of people allergic to eggs; 66% of people allergic to milk; and 42% of people allergic to cashews. These results were based on small amounts of each food: a quarter of an egg, two tablespoons of 1% milk and 3.5 cashews, according to genetech.