One year results from an on-going clinical trial suggest a novel wearable peanut protein skin patch could be effective in treating children and young adults with peanut allergy.

Consortium of Food Allergy Research researchers at five study sites randomly assigned 74 peanut-allergic volunteers, aged 4 to 25 years, to treatment with either a high-dose (250 micrograms peanut protein), low-dose (100 micrograms peanut protein), or placebo patch. Each day, a new patch was applied to the participant’s arm or between the shoulder blades.

The investigators assessed allergic reaction at the beginning of the study with a supervised, oral food challenge with peanut-containing food. After one year, they assessed each participant’s ability to consume at least 10 times more peanut protein than he or she was able to consume before starting treatment.
A total of 46 per cent of the low-dose group and 48 per cent of the high-dose group achieved treatment success, compared with 12 per cent of the placebo group. Investigators observed greater treatment effects among children aged 4 to 11 years, with significantly less effect in participants aged 12 years and older.