Viaskin Peanut Allergy Patch Fast Tracked by FDA

Over the last few years there has been a lot of “good starts” when it comes to novel treatments of allergies and asthma. From a vaccine for cat allergies to bronchial thermoplasty for asthmatics, there Food and Drug Administrationhave been a myriad of treatments, in varying stages of testing, that offer hope for the millions who suffer from environmental and food allergies as well as asthma. As the latest in this line, the FDA recently “fast tracked” a novel approach to desensitizing those with peanut allergies – Viaskin Peanut Allergy Patch.

How does Viaskin® Peanut work? From their website,

“Epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPITĀ®) consists in repeated application of antigen with ViaskinĀ® on intact skin. EPIT induces a decrease of allergen specific responses (i.e. decrease of allergen-specific IgE, decrease of TH2 cytokine production, and decrease of local and systemic response after exposure to allergen) and increase of regulatory responses (i.e. increase of allergen-specific IgG2a or IgG4, increase of regulatory T cells (Tregs).”

Viaskin Peanut Allergy Patch Traps Natural Moisture Loss that Solubilizes the Antigen for Absorption
In plain English, this is a patch that allows small but steady amounts of the peanut allergen (antigen) to be absorbed by the skin. This patch has a small air pocket built into it where it moisture condenses. This allows the antigen to combine with the moisture and be more readily absorbed by the skin. Langerhans cells, specialized immune system cells, capture the allergen in this outermost layer of the skin and migrate it to the lymph nodes. Here is where the modification (desensitization) takes places. As this process repeats it essentially trains the immune system to down-regulate and promote a long term tolerance of the allergen.

Viaskin Peanut Allergy Patch - Once Absorbed, Langerhans Cells Transport the Antigen to the Lymph System

Upon reviewing the performance of the Viasking peanut allergy patch in earlier rounds of clinical trials, the Food and Drug Administration granted the patch a breakthrough therapy designation. This allows for faster development and review of the treatment. This the first drug designed for food allergies, that has received this designation. So why do certain treatments get this “fast track”? It all comes down to results. From adults to children as young as 12, test results show year long treatments with the patch resulted in patients demonstrating the ability to be exposed to at least ten times the amount of the allergen previously needed to elicit a response.

With this type of treatment, there are no painful shots or needles, or weekly appointments for sublingual drops. This patch bypasses traditional sublingual and desensitization treatments. There’s also less risk to the patient actually having an allergic reaction since the allergen never reaches the bloodstream to trigger a full-fledged allergic response.

An easy way to visualize this is to think of a brownie. Before the treatment a patient may have an allergic reaction after eating a brownie that had a single, small piece of peanut in it. After the treatment, the patient could eat a handful of peanuts with no reaction. For those with food allergies, this kind of cushion can represent the difference between a trip to the emergency room after snack time and being just fine.

Now, with the FDA designation, there’s a very real chance that the Viaskin peanut allergy patch, and others like it, could be available within in the next five years.

For more information on the clinical trials.
For more information on Viaskin and DBV Technologies.

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