World-First Infant Peanut Allergy Treatment Begins in Australia

• Australia launches a pioneering national program to treat babies with peanut allergies using oral immunotherapy, supervised by pediatric hospitals.
• The program aims to build immunity and reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions, with potential expansion to other hospitals and food allergies.

In a groundbreaking initiative, babies in Australia diagnosed with peanut allergies will now have access to treatment aimed at building immunity against this potentially life-threatening condition. This world-first program, overseen by select pediatric hospitals, involves administering gradually increasing doses of peanut powder to eligible infants over a period of at least two years to reduce their sensitivity.

While oral immunotherapy has been available in clinical trials and some specialized allergy centers globally, this marks the first time such a treatment has been adopted as a national model of care for peanut allergies. Known as the “allergy capital of the world,” Australia sees one in ten infants diagnosed with food sensitivities. Peanut allergy specifically affects about 3% of Australians at 12 months old, and unlike other food allergies, it is rarely outgrown, making it the most prevalent food allergy among school-aged children.

“[This] might be the game changer we have all wanted to stop this terrible allergy in its tracks,” Assistant Minister for Health Ged Kearney said.

The program, offered free of charge, is available exclusively to children under 12 months who have already been diagnosed with a peanut allergy and are under the care of one of ten participating hospitals nationwide. According to program lead Tim Brettig, the dosing schedule will be meticulously calculated for each child until they reach a “maintenance dose,” which they will remain on for two years.

Though some children may experience side effects, including mild allergic reactions, the treatment’s goal is to increase their tolerance threshold and lower the risk and anxiety associated with peanut exposure. Results will be evaluated through a food allergy test at the end of the treatment period. “In some cases, [the threshold] might be so high that they can eat peanuts in their diet freely, for others it might raise it to a level where accidental exposures wouldn’t result in an allergic reaction.”

Professor Kirsten Perrett, Director of the National Allergy Centre of Excellence (NACE), highlighted the program’s long-term objectives: “Ultimately, we want to change the trajectory of allergic disease in Australia so that more children can go to school without the risk of a life-threatening peanut reaction.”

NACE will assess the program for both effectiveness and safety, with the potential to expand it to additional hospitals and possibly include other food allergies. However, medical professionals have cautioned against attempting oral immunotherapy at home without supervision. “It’s definitely not a program for everybody,” Dr. Brettig emphasized.