In a significant development for the field of allergy treatment, Prota Therapeutics announced that its clinical research on the investigational peanut allergy therapy, PRT120, was recognized with a prestigious EAACI Prize. This award from the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology acknowledged the outstanding long-term data from the PPOIT-003 long-term study. The study, conducted in partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), showcased the potential of PRT120 to induce durable remission in children with peanut allergies, offering a new path forward beyond simple desensitization.
The study followed children who had completed an 18-month course of PRT120, a peanut oral immunotherapy with a unique, short-term dosing regimen. The findings revealed a clear distinction between children who achieved remission and those who were merely desensitized. According to a previous study, more than 95% of children in the remission group were consuming peanuts freely or regularly two years after treatment cessation. This contrasted sharply with the desensitized group, many of whom struggled to maintain daily peanut ingestion and continued to experience significant allergic reactions.
At the three-year mark, the results were even more compelling. The data, presented at the 2025 EAACI Annual Congress, showed that over 90% of the remission participants who were still in the study continued to eat peanuts regularly. Crucially, they did so with no moderate or severe reactions and no need for rescue epinephrine. This is a stark contrast to the desensitized participants who still experienced significant reactions, with some requiring epinephrine. This durability of effect is a key differentiator for PRT120, as it aims to provide long-term freedom from the burden of daily dosing.
Professor Mimi Tang, PhD, scientific founder of Prota Therapeutics, highlighted the importance of this outcome. “Children in remission after Prota’s unique short-duration oral immunotherapy and dosing regimen, PRT120, not only maintain protection without daily dosing, but also enjoy a better quality of life and freedom from ongoing treatment burden,” she stated. This sentiment was echoed by Dr Paxton Loke, a research clinician at MCRI, who added, “To see children remain protected and able to eat peanuts freely three years after completing PRT120 treatment, without the anxiety of significant reactions or the demands of indefinite dosing, demonstrates the potential of this approach to transform care for peanut allergy.”
The recognition from EAACI builds on previous accolades, including a 2023 award from the GALEN GA²FA Annual Conference for the program’s two-year post-treatment data. This consistent international acknowledgment affirms the scientific significance of remission as a durable and clinically meaningful endpoint for food allergy treatments. Professor Tang noted, “While these awards are not formal measures of clinical success, they do reflect meaningful acknowledgment from leading scientific forums,” and provide a “strong foundation for our upcoming four- to five-year analyses.”
The findings reinforce the differentiation of PRT120 from existing approved therapies, which often require ongoing, indefinite dosing to maintain desensitization. Prota Therapeutics is now preparing to advance PRT120 into a Phase 3 clinical trial in the US, with plans to begin next year. Guillaume Pfefer, PhD, Director of Prota Therapeutics, emphasized the therapy’s potential, stating, “This recognition not only validates the strength of Prota’s science and clinical research but also adds momentum as we prepare for Phase 3 development of PRT120.”
The EAACI Prize marks a significant milestone for Prota Therapeutics and the broader field of allergy treatment. By demonstrating that its PRT120 therapy can induce a durable, long-lasting remission in children with peanut allergies, the company is poised to offer a treatment option that goes beyond managing symptoms. This approach has the potential to fundamentally change how peanut allergy is treated, providing a new level of freedom and quality of life for patients and their families.
