Are you or your child allergic to nuts, peanuts, milk, or eggs? If so, you probably know the fear and anxiety you feel when you go to a party, event, or have to eat something at the store. How difficult is it to live with the fear of what will happen if you unknowingly ingest even a small amount of a food you are allergic to? So, today we are going to talk about a recently approved new drug that brings some hope to the millions of people who suffer from such severe food allergies .
What exactly is Xolair?
Simply put, Xolair is not a brand-new drug. It's actually a well-tested drug that has been used for more than 20 years for other conditions. It's specifically used to treat asthma in children over 6 years old, some chronic allergies, and people with nasal polyps.
The best part is that there is long-term data on the safety of this drug. For example, it has now been confirmed that it is safe even during pregnancy and is not associated with a risk of cancer as initially suspected.
However, like all medications, there can be minor side effects. Pain and fever at the injection site are common. However, medical experts say, "We wouldn't think twice about using this for the right patient, at the right time."
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved this drug to reduce the risk of severe, even life-threatening allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) that can occur after inadvertently ingesting a food due to a food allergy .
Does this medicine really work? What does the research say?
A large study was recently conducted to find the answer to this question. It involved 180 people aged 1 to 55 years with allergies to tree nuts such as peanuts, milk, eggs, wheat, and cashews.
This is what was done in this research.
1. One group was given the Xolair vaccine for 16-20 weeks.
2. The other group was given a placebo.
3. Then, both of them were fed a very small amount of protein, about half the size of a peanut , to see if they would develop severe allergic symptoms (whole-body rash, coughing, vomiting).
4. After that, they tested things like cashews, milk, and eggs by gradually increasing the dosage .
The results are truly amazing.
Between 80% and 85% of people who took the drug Xolair had clear protection from severe reactions that could occur if they unknowingly ate a small amount of an allergic food.
Not only that, but about half of those who took the drug were able to tolerate the equivalent of 25 peanuts at a time . This is a really big deal, because the amount you unknowingly ingest is much less than you would normally.
So is this a 'magic pill'? Is everything okay?
This is where we need to understand. While Xolair is a great hope, it is not a 'magic bullet' that will completely cure allergies.
Let's take a look at the advantages of this and what we need to be careful about in the table below.
| Advantages | Points to Consider |
|---|---|
| Significantly reduces the risk of severe reactions (anaphylaxis) that can occur if an allergic food is inadvertently ingested. | This does not completely cure the allergy. It is just a safety net. |
| Helps reduce stress and fear in parents and patients. | You should definitely continue to avoid the foods you are allergic to as much as possible. |
| Because it has been used for over 20 years for other diseases, there is good data on safety. | You should always carry an EpiPen (an emergency injection for severe allergies) in case of an emergency. |
| Many major foods have been shown to be effective for allergies. | The first 3 vaccinations should be received at a hospital or clinic under the supervision of a doctor. |
Cost and other challenges
One of the biggest challenges with this drug is its high cost . Based on American prices, it costs hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankan rupees per month. Therefore, it is questionable to what extent this will be accessible to the general public in Sri Lanka.
We also need to understand the psychological stress of living with food allergies . Imagine, if a child is allergic to milk, they are afraid to go to a restaurant where they eat out, even for a family member's birthday. Because even a small mistake in the kitchen can endanger the child's life. Recently, there was a news report of a doctor who, despite informing the restaurant that she had an allergy and taking all the necessary precautions, died due to the allergen in the food. This shows how serious this situation is.
A drug like Xolair could provide great safety and freedom to families living in such fear.
Take-Home Message
- Xolair is a medicine given as a shot that reduces the risk of severe food allergy reactions. However, it is not a cure for allergies.
- Even after receiving this treatment, it is essential to continue avoiding the foods you are allergic to and to keep an EpiPen handy in case of an emergency.
- This medicine is very expensive and may not be easily available to everyone.
- This can also cause minor side effects, and medical supervision is very important at the beginning of treatment.
- If you or someone in your family suffers from severe food allergies, talk to your doctor to see if this treatment is right for you. Don't make decisions based on what you read online.
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