Peanut allergy protection just got easier: peanut vaccine in a patch
A peanut patch vaccine is the newest option being studied for children with severe allergy to
peanuts.
The two types of “vaccine” that have received the greatest study are oral immunotherapy (OIT), and
sublingual immune therapy (SLIT). Both approaches are flawed and thus have not been approved by the
FDA.
Oral therapy provides the best results in terms of vaccine protection against peanut exposure, but it
has an intolerably high frequency of side effects. Sublingual therapy is less prone to side effects, but,
unfortunately, does not provide very good vaccine protection.
The new approach: epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) seems to be the answer. It provides an
excellent level of protection with few side effects.
The peanut extract is administered by a patch worn on the skin. The dosage is gradually increased by
increasing the length of time the patch is in place.