Nov. 16, 2023 – A brand new toothpaste is exhibiting promise as a therapy to assist adults who’re allergic to peanuts tolerate rising quantities of peanut protein.
The investigational toothpaste is labeled INT301 and it met its security targets in an early randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Thirty-two adults, ages 18-55, who had been allergic to peanuts, had been enrolled within the 4-month trial. The contributors had been randomly positioned into teams that obtained both rising quantities of the peanut protein within the toothpaste to check how a lot they may tolerate safely or a placebo toothpaste that had no peanut proteins. The toothpaste was squeezed from a metered dispenser to regulate the quantity.
Neither the particular person giving the contributors the toothpaste, nor the affected person knew which sort of toothpaste they received, to assist remove potential bias.
“INT301 demonstrated security throughout all therapy teams,” mentioned the examine’s lead writer, William Berger, MD, an allergist and guide for Intrommune, a biotechnology firm based mostly in New York Metropolis, which developed the toothpaste.
The toothpaste is a type of oral immunotherapy and it exposes the physique to an allergen in tiny however rising quantities over time to construct tolerance in case an individual is by chance uncovered to peanuts. Not like another oral immunotherapies, this one targets cells not slightly below the tongue, however in lots of components of the mouth with the best potential for allergy desensitization, Berger mentioned.
Berger offered the findings of the OMEGA (Oral Mucosal Escalation Aim Evaluation) trial Nov. 11 on the American Faculty of Allergy, Bronchial asthma and Immunology Annual Assembly in Anaheim, CA.
All Tolerated the Highest Dose
All contributors within the therapy arm constantly tolerated the very best dose. As well as, there have been no reasonable or extreme unwanted effects, Berger mentioned.
The primary response for individuals who received the therapy toothpaste was gentle itching contained in the mouth that could possibly be eradicated with antihistamines.
Trial regulators had requested the investigators to observe for any dental unwanted effects and Berger mentioned the toothpaste didn’t trigger well being within the tooth or mouth.
Early Indicators it’s Efficient
This early examine was primarily a security trial, however the investigators additionally discovered indicators with blood checks that the toothpaste works to assist desensitize adults to peanut protein. Effectiveness will likely be explored additional in a future trial.
Kristin Sokol, MD, MPH, an allergist/immunologist with Schreiber Allergy in Rockville, MD, mentioned, “As of now, the one choices now we have for meals allergy therapy and administration are to inform our sufferers to utterly keep away from a meals and carry epinephrine for his or her whole lives,” one other oral immunotherapy.
Oral immunotherapy is time consuming, and there are substantial logistic issues. This toothpaste provides a neater choice that households can match into their every day schedules, she mentioned.
“I am at all times searching for choices like that,” Sokol mentioned. “Clearly there are extra research that have to be carried out. I actually like the protection knowledge on this. The zero incidence of anaphylaxis is admittedly vital.”
