On the track to curing food allergies

What's the child health challenge?

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of the life-threatening allergic reaction anaphylaxis and is more likely to result in death than any other food allergy.

Since 1995, peanut allergies have increased by over 350 percent. Melbourne is a food allergy hotspot with one in 10 babies affected, the highest incidence globally.

The need for a curative treatment is greatest for peanut allergy since it is usually lifelong. Avoiding trigger foods is the only treatment, but this causes lifestyle restrictions and anxiety about accidentally eating the food.

What's the child health challenge?

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of the life-threatening allergic reaction anaphylaxis and is more likely to result in death than any other food allergy.

Since 1995, peanut allergies have increased by over...

What's the child health challenge?

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of the life-threatening allergic reaction anaphylaxis and is more likely to result in death than any other food allergy.

Since 1995, peanut allergies have increased by over 350 percent. Melbourne is a food allergy hotspot with one in 10 babies affected, the highest incidence globally.

What's the discovery or innovation?

We trialled a new treatment combining a good bacteria probiotic with peanut protein in increasing amounts over 18 months. The immunotherapy stimulated the immune system to become less sensitive to peanut, and the probiotic improved safety and tolerability.

Eighty-two percent of children treated developed clinical remission by the trial’s end compared with four percent who received a placebo (no active treatment.) Four years after stopping daily therapy, the benefits continued for most in the treated group.

We are collaborating to develop the therapy into a product available globally and are trialling similar therapies for other food allergies, including egg.

How is it changing children’s lives?

A cure may be possible for peanut allergy if this therapy to redirect the immune system away from allergy and into clinical remission is successful.

For the first time, we could have therapies that provide meaningful and long-lasting benefits, allowing people to avoid living in fear of peanuts and eat peanut products.

These trials could change the lives of millions of people with food allergies around the world, enabling them to eat whatever they want.

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