Treatment With Allergy Drug Builds Tolerance For Milk Among Allergic Children

U.S. scientists have found in a clinical study involving 11 milk-allergic children that treatment with the allergy drug omalizumab along with gradually increased exposure to milk built up a tolerance. Nine of the 11 children passed a double-blind food challenge and were eventually able to consume the equivalent of eight ounces of milk or more a day without an allergic reaction. According to the scientists, omalizumab (marketed by Genentech as Xolair) binds up IgE antibodies that drive allergic responses. Milk allergy is the most common form of allergy affecting the three million U.S. children who suffer from food allergies. The researchers said their next project will be a similar clinical trial among people with peanut allergy.