Scientists in the US are developing a drug which may help prevent serious allergic reactions in those with peanut allergies.
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The drug, TNX-901, which is at least three years away from going on the market, is designed to block the action of immunoglobulin-E, or IgE, a molecule that plays a major part in asthma and allergies, reports BBC News Online.
The researchers conducted a study in which 84 people with peanut allergy were given monthly injections of various doses of the drug, or a dummy injection.
Those receiving the highest dose could eat peanut flour equivalent to almost nine peanuts after four months of treatment. Five subjects ate the equivalent of 24 peanuts without having a reaction.
In addition, some participants noticed that other food allergies were lessened and hay fever symptoms disappeared.
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By GlobalDataThe research, which was presented to a meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in Denver, will be published in the New England Journal of Medicine
The drug, which is still at an experimental stage, has hit problems with its third round of tests due to legal infighting between three pharmaceutical companies with rights to it.
David Reading, director of the UK Anaphylaxis Campaign, was quoted by BBC News Online as saying: “We are cautiously optimistic.
“People with peanut allergy often find that life is extremely uncertain and stressful.
“Anything that reduces the everyday risks will improve the quality of life for the large number of families affected.”
