Children's Colorado launches new program to expand treatment options for children with food allergies

Children's Hospital Colorado's Allergy and Immunology Center today launched its Sublingual Immunotherapy Program at its Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, expanding treatment options for children with certain food allergies. Eligible patients now have access to this ongoing therapy, which helps build tolerance to up to 10 food allergens through daily liquid drops developed by Top9Proteins.

Patients enrolled in the program receive small, carefully controlled doses of allergen under the tongue during four supervised visits at Children's Colorado's Food Challenge and Research Unit. Families are then transitioned to daily at-home therapy, where a consistent regimen may gradually build tolerance and provide greater protection against accidental exposure.

Children's Colorado's Sublingual Immunotherapy Program is expected to treat milk, egg, peanut, cashew (which also provides protection against pistachio), walnut (which also provides protection against pecan), almond, hazelnut and sesame allergies. Additional allergens, including soy and wheat, may be introduced in the future. Children of all ages may be considered for the program, though younger children tend to respond better to immunotherapy and may experience stronger results.

The process begins with an evaluation by a Children's Colorado allergist. Eligible patients may then be referred for a virtual immunotherapy consultation, where families learn about available treatment options, including sublingual immunotherapy and oral immunotherapy, and work with their care team to determine the most appropriate path forward. Appointment wait times may vary and could range from several weeks to months.

Every child and family has different goals, needs and comfort levels when it comes to managing food allergies. Sublingual immunotherapy gives us another way to help children build tolerance to certain allergens while providing added protection from accidental exposures and greater peace of mind for families."

Allison Hicks, MD, director of Food Immunotherapies and the Food Challenge and Research Unit, Children's Colorado

Children's Colorado's Allergy and Immunology Center is one of the largest of its kind in the country and is dedicated to the management of pediatric patients with allergic and immunologic diseases. It is also among the few pediatric medical centers in the region to offer sublingual immunotherapy.

While not currently FDA approved for this use, eligible sublingual immunotherapy patients may obtain prescriptions through Children's Colorado's outpatient pharmacy. The most common reported side effect is temporary mouth itching. While sublingual immunotherapy can help reduce the risk and severity of allergic reactions, it is not a cure and does not replace the need for continued allergy precautions.