April 24, 2025

expert reaction to study looking at peanut desensitisation in adults with peanut allergy

A study published in Allergy looks at peanut desensitisation in adults with a peanut allergy. 

Prof Adam Fox, Chair of the National Allergy Study Group, and Professor of Paediatric Allergy at King’s College London, said:

“Conventional wisdom has been that oral immunotherapy for food is really just for children and there is clear evidence that the younger it is started, the safer and better the outcome.  However, that doesn’t mean that the benefits would not still be worthwhile for adults and this study shows that for many, oral immunotherapy for peanut at least, can still make a real difference.  This is only a small study and we hope to see larger studies to follow but it’s an important proof of principle that this may well be a treatment for adults too.  However, this treatment requires careful medical supervision and should never be attempted without this.”

‘Oral Immunotherapy in Peanut-Allergic Adults Using Real-World Materials’ by Hannah Hunter et al. was published in Allergy at 00:01 UK time on Thursday 24 April 2025.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/all.16493

Declared interests

Prof Adam Fox: “Independent Chair of Data Monitoring Committee for Commercial research Study sponsored by ALK-Abello.  This relates to a different type of peanut desensitisation but I am not part of the study itself.”