Many current studies focus on immunotherapies (OIT, SLIT, EPIT) to treat food allergies in young children leaving adolescents and adults hopeful but frustrated. An entirely different mechanism is being studied that may offer older people with food allergies an effective treatment.
Earlier this week, researchers at the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason (BRI) presented a research study entitled “Role of IL-33 in modulating human allergen-specific pathogenic CD4+T Cell responses,” at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) in Atlanta.
In a nutshell, the researchers found that a specific kind of immune system cell – TH2A cells – are found with elevated frequency in peanut-allergic patients. When they isolated these cells, they found that they are especially sensitive to IL-33 which triggers an immune response believed to be associated with peanut allergy. IL-33 is also suspected to be a mediator in other food allergies, atopic diseases, and asthma.
AnaptysBio, a San Diego-based biotech company that specializes in creating antibody therapies, is studying ANB020, an antibody that inhibits IL-33. ANB020 has received clearance from US and UK authorities to begin Phase IIa clinical trials, the results of which are expected in the second half of 2017.
We’ll be sure to keep an eye on the progress of ANB020 through clinical trials and keep you updated.
