Oral Immunotherapy and Anti-IgE Antibody-Adjunctive Treatment for Food Allergy

One of the most promising therapies for food allergy is oral immunotherapy (OIT), in which small amounts of allergen are administered in increasing amounts, with the immediate goal of desensitization and the long-term goal of tolerance. However, safety and standardization concerns prevent its widespread use, and a subgroup of patients may experience severe allergic reactions. These concerns might be addressed by another promising therapy involving anti-IgE monoclonal antibodies (mAb), which can reduce allergic reactions associated with food administration. A recent pilot study combining anti-IgE mAb with OIT suggests that anti-IgE mAb might improve the safety, rapidity, and efficacy of OIT.