New Peanut Allergy Patch Shows Promise in Clinical Trials for Toddlers

Over the past last decade, researchers have engineered better, smarter and easier ways to deliver needed drugs into the body. One of these ways—a transdermal patch. Birth control patches have provided a worry-free way for women to manage their reproductive health and nicotine patches have helped millions quit smoking. Now, there’s a new patch that’s on the horizon with the potential to reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions to peanuts in toddlers.

The patch, called Viaskin, is currently in clinical trials and has shown promising results for reducing the risk of severe allergic reactions to peanuts in toddlers. In a recent trial, over 150 children between the ages of 1 and 3 participated, all of whom had peanut allergies.

The trial found that after one year of using the patch, over half of the children were able to consume 1-4 peanuts without experiencing a severe allergic reaction. These results have excited both parents and doctors alike, as peanut allergies are one of the most common and potentially life-threatening allergies, affecting around 1 in every 50 children.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) currently recommends introducing peanuts and other highly allergenic foods around six months of age, along with other solid foods. To prevent possible choking hazards, the AAP suggests introducing children under 4 to ground peanuts or other formulations instead of whole peanuts. For high-risk infants with eczema or egg allergies, the AAP recommends the introduction of peanuts as early as four months of age under the supervision of a doctor.

It’s important to talk to your pediatrician before introducing any new foods to your baby’s diet.“We encourage parents to talk to their pediatrician or allergist about the symptoms of allergies and whether their child should be tested,” said A. Wesley Burks, M.D., FAAP, of the AAP wrote in a press release. “The physician can help track any changes in allergies, some of which may go away as a child grows older.”