Last January, I told you about two studies that had been completed, both showing success with desensitizing peanut allergies in children. And this January, another study is demonstrating the same hope! After 18 months, around 80% of kids in the group studied for an Australian trial could tolerate peanuts. I can't tell you how pleased I am to hear of all the studies being done that are having these positive results. Even if it's not a cure (yet?), the fact that tolerance is built is incredible.
Minimizing reactions and building tolerances may not be an indefinite cure, nobody seems to know how long the results of these studies last, but they certainly do offer hope. Desensitization lessons the threat of cross-contamination risks for those with peanut allergies. It means that small traces of peanuts may no longer pose a threat to lives.
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Here in Canada, Dr. Susan Waserman of McMaster has been having great success in desensitization peanut allergies as well. In addition to these efforts, DBV Technologies SA is readying to launch "Viaskin Peanut", a patch that delivers small amounts of peanut protein to the skin, which then helps the immune system build tolerance. The patch is set to hit the market in 2018.
There's such great hope just around the corner, and I cannot wait to see how the allergy landscape changes in just a few years. The idea that these studies could change the way I parent my son is amazing.
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