New patch therapy: A breakthrough for peanut allergy sufferers

The Food Allergy Center at Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego is one of eight hospitals in the United States participating in an international peanut allergy desensitization study. The investigational therapy involves participants wearing a skin patch that contains tiny amounts of peanut. The purpose of the study is to see if people wearing the patch for a certain period of time will develop lower sensitivity to peanut.

"There are almost 3,000 children seen at Rady Children's who report a peanut allergy. Until now we have had no treatment to offer, instead management has involved avoidance and treatment of accidental ingestions. The new patch therapy could prove to be a breakthrough for the peanut allergy sufferers," said Stephanie Leonard, M.D., director, of the Food Allergy Center at Rady Children's. "This type of groundbreaking clinical research is important for our community."

About one percent of people in the United States or about 3 million of the population suffer from peanut allergies and that number is increasing. Only 20 percent of children may outgrow a peanut allergy.

Rady Children's is looking for children who suffer from a peanut allergy to participate in the research. Some of the requirements include:

• Participants must be healthy and at least 6 years old
• Have eaten peanut and had a reaction and are currently following a strictly peanut-free diet
• Willing to wear a daily skin patch
• Participate in 12 clinic visits during the course of 13 months