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Just Like Us: 20 Celebrities Coping with Food Allergies and Celiac Disease

By
Dave Bloom
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Celebrities with food allergies and celiac disease

Do your food allergies make you feel isolated? You may feel all alone, but it’s important to realize that an estimated 32 million fellow Americans — 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 16 children — are also coping with the disease.

And of those living in the US with food allergies, 90% are attributable to the “Top 9” allergens. Here they are with an estimated number of Americans that are dealing with allergies to them:

  • shellfish: 8.2 million
  • milk: 6.1 million
  • peanut: 6.1 million
  • tree nuts: 3.9 million
  • egg: 2.6 million
  • fin fish: 2.6 million
  • wheat: 2.4 million
  • soy: 1.9 million
  • sesame: 0.7 million

Add to that the roughly 2 million Americans who are coping with celiac disease and must avoid gluten, and you’ll find yourself in the company of many living with restricted diets.

Still feeling alone? Here’s a list of 20 celebs and the foods that are their kryptonite.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande, the diva behind Rain on Me and 7 Rings, is allergic to tomatoes and bananas according to this article by Insider.

Bethenny Frankel

Real Housewives of New York star and Skinny Girl mogul Bethenny Frankel is allergic to fish per this article from Women’s Health.

Bill Hader

Writer, director, and producer of Barry and SNL alum Bill Hader is allergic to peanuts as he discussed in this Team Coco video.

Clay Aiken

American Idol and recording star, Clay Aiken, is allergic to a host of foods including chocolate, coffee, mint, shellfish, tree nuts, and mushrooms according to this article appearing in Rolling Stone.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck

Survivor star and former co-host of The View, Elisabeth Hasselbeck is coping with celiac disease according to this article from Glamour.

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These Four Changes Would Make Food Labeling MUCH Safer for the Allergic Community

By
Dave Bloom
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Allergen Warning Statements

According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), over 32 million Americans suffer from food allergies comprising 8% of all children and 11% of adults. And make no mistake about it: a mere trace of an allergen consumed by an allergic individual can result in a severe, sometimes life-threatening reaction known as anaphylaxis.

Unfortunately, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is failing when it comes to protecting American food allergy sufferers from allergens that could cause them serious harm. Where the FDA mandates certain ingredient disclosures on the label, they confuse matters by allowing multiple ways of doing so. Where the FDA has abrogated their responsibility entirely, manufacturers have stepped in with a hodgepodge of advisory warnings that confuse allergic consumers and give them a false sense of security their food products are free of their allergens of concern.

In working with hundreds of food manufacturers since we established SnackSafely.com in 2011, we’ve learned that much of what goes on behind the scenes in food manufacturing is not disclosed on the label.

Looking back with the benefit of that experience, we’ve come up with four relatively easy-to-implement changes that would strengthen allergen labeling regulations and make shopping for consumer packaged goods easier, safer, and far less confusing for the allergic community.

Next: Mandate the “Contains” statement

New Study on How We Tolerate Food Offers Clues to Prevent and Treat Food Allergies

By
Dave Bloom
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Stock Research Lab Image

Recent research funded by the National Institutes of Health provides new insight into how the body distinguishes between a nutritious meal and a potential threat. While scientists have long understood how food allergies occur—when the immune system overreacts to certain proteins—the biological mechanisms that promote tolerance have remained less clear. This study helps explain how the immune system actively learns to recognize food as safe.

Published in Science Immunology, the research highlights the role of regulatory T (Treg) cells, which act as the immune system’s peacekeepers. These cells use specialized receptors to recognize specific protein fragments, or epitopes, derived from food. By studying mice on a normal diet, researchers identified Treg cells that respond to proteins found in common plant-based foods.

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A key finding is that the immune system doesn’t simply ignore food—it actively identifies it. The epitopes recognized by these Treg cells were traced primarily to seed storage proteins, which serve as nutrient reserves in plants. One of the most prominent examples was alpha-zein, a protein found in corn, suggesting the immune system may be specifically tuned to recognize foundational components of the foods we eat.

Timing also appears to play a critical role. The researchers observed that Treg cells targeting alpha-zein emerged in mice around the time of weaning, when solid foods are first introduced. This suggests that oral tolerance is an adaptive process that begins early in life, as the diet expands.

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The findings challenge the traditional view that tolerance is simply the absence of an allergic response. Instead, tolerance appears to be an active and ongoing process, with the immune system continuously evaluating food-derived signals and reinforcing a state of balance.

While still early, this research could inform new strategies aimed at promoting immune tolerance. By better understanding how the body naturally recognizes food as safe, scientists hope to lay the groundwork for future approaches to preventing or treating food allergies.

Sources:

Study Finds Adults with Heart Conditions Face Greater Risks During Anaphylaxis

By
Dave Bloom
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Heart Health with Epinephrine

New research presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting suggests that adults with pre-existing cardiovascular disease face significantly worse outcomes when hospitalized for anaphylaxis.

The study analyzed more than 115,000 hospitalizations recorded in the National Inpatient Sample between 2016 and 2022, focusing on patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of anaphylaxis. Researchers found that approximately 60.9% of these patients had an underlying cardiovascular condition—highlighting how commonly heart disease overlaps with severe allergic reactions in adults.

Patients with cardiovascular disease experienced more complicated hospital courses. On average, they had significantly longer hospital stays and were more likely to develop serious complications, including acute respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and myocardial infarction.

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The risk of death was also notably higher. Among roughly 970 in-hospital deaths recorded in the study, patients with cardiovascular disease were nearly twice as likely to die compared to those without heart-related conditions. According to lead author Diala Merheb, the research team also examined whether complications such as respiratory failure, kidney injury, and cardiac events were associated with pre-existing cardiovascular disease—and found clear links.

A closer look revealed that not all heart conditions carry the same risk. Patients with arrhythmias showed the strongest association with mortality, underscoring the importance of understanding how specific cardiovascular diagnoses influence outcomes during anaphylaxis.

Recovery after discharge was also more challenging for these patients. Those with cardiovascular disease were more likely to require ongoing care, including placement in skilled nursing facilities or the use of home health services, suggesting a more difficult recovery trajectory.

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While the study does not establish cause and effect, it highlights an important association that may influence how clinicians approach care. Greater attention to cardiovascular health—and closer monitoring during and after anaphylaxis—may help improve outcomes for this high-risk group.

The researchers emphasize that more work is needed to better understand why these risks occur and how best to manage them. As Merheb noted, anaphylaxis remains a complex condition with many potential triggers, and future research will be key to refining treatment strategies.

If you or a loved one has both food allergies and a cardiovascular condition (such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia, or coronary artery disease), consider discussing the following with your healthcare provider:

  • Whether your emergency action plan needs adjustments
  • How medications for heart conditions may interact with epinephrine
  • The importance of early epinephrine use at the first sign of anaphylaxis
  • When additional monitoring may be needed after a reaction

The bottom line: Anaphylaxis is always serious—but for people with heart conditions, extra vigilance may be warranted.

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Sublingual Epinephrine Advances as FDA Clarifies Requirements for Approval

By
Dave Bloom
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Aquestive's Anaphylm Emergency Epinephrine Sublingual Film
Aquestive's Anaphylm Emergency Epinephrine Sublingual Film

On March 30, 2026, Aquestive Therapeutics announced the successful completion of a critical Type A meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This meeting focused on the path forward for the resubmission of the New Drug Application (NDA) for Anaphylm™ (dibutepinephrine) sublingual film. Following a previous Complete Response Letter (CRL), the company has been working to address specific concerns regarding the product’s administration and packaging to ensure it meets the rigorous safety standards required for a rescue medication.

The meeting provided Aquestive with necessary clarifying feedback on the design of upcoming pharmacokinetic (PK) and human factor (HF) studies. These studies are essential to prove that the medication’s oral film delivery remains effective and user-friendly even after the company’s recent adjustments to the product’s packaging. Daniel Barber, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aquestive, expressed optimism regarding the interaction, stating, “The Type A Meeting with FDA confirmed our approach on several key program elements, and we are grateful to the Agency for the productive dialogue on the next steps for our Anaphylm program.”

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A major highlight of the discussion was the alignment between Aquestive and the FDA on product labeling. Rather than requiring extensive new clinical data to address the potential for patients to chew the film, the FDA agreed that clear labeling language could sufficiently manage this risk. This agreement streamlines the regulatory process, allowing the company to focus its resources on the primary validation studies. Barber noted the urgency of the team’s efforts, saying, “We are already hard at work preparing for our human factors and PK studies in support of our planned Anaphylm NDA resubmission in the third quarter of this year.”

In response to the FDA’s initial concerns about the difficulty of opening the medication’s pouch, Aquestive showcased revisions to the container’s closure mechanism. The new design is intended to make the pouch easier to open in an emergency while preventing the delicate film from tearing. The FDA acknowledged these changes, which will be formally tested in the upcoming HF study. This focus on the “patient experience” is a central pillar of the resubmission strategy, as the drug is intended for use during high-stress anaphylactic events.

Beyond the technical requirements, the company reaffirmed its broader mission to provide a non-invasive alternative to traditional epinephrine auto-injectors. Anaphylm is designed to be the first oral rescue medication of its kind, roughly the size of a postage stamp and capable of dissolving on contact without water. Highlighting the impact of this innovation, Barber remarked, “We continue to believe Anaphylm, the first and only oral epinephrine rescue medication, has the potential to be transformative for those at risk of life-threatening allergic reactions.”

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The company also extended its gratitude to the medical and patient communities that have supported the development of Anaphylm. As the only oral option currently in late-stage development, the product has garnered significant interest from those seeking an “easy-to-carry” and “fast-acting” treatment. “We want to thank the many patients, healthcare providers, and patient advocacy organizations who have expressed support for our program. Our commitment to address the long-unmet needs of this community remains strong,” Barber added.

With the Type A meeting concluded, Aquestive is now awaiting the final official minutes from the FDA, which are expected by early May 2026. Despite the setback of the earlier CRL, the company remains on a steady trajectory, reaffirming its guidance to resubmit the Anaphylm NDA in the third quarter of 2026. If successful, Aquestive is well-positioned to finally bring this long-awaited, needle-free epinephrine delivery system to the global market.

Source: Aquestive Therapeutics Announces Completion of Type A Meeting with FDA for Anaphylm™ (dibutepinephrine) Sublingual Film — Company Press Release

New Study Reveals “Trigger-Happy” Antibodies in Alpha-Gal Syndrome

By
Dave Bloom
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Alpha-gal molecule over da Vinci's Vitruvian Man
Alpha-gal molecule over da Vinci's Vitruvian Man

A recent study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI) has shed new light on Alpha-gal Syndrome (AGS), a unique and often misunderstood allergy to red meat and other mammalian products. Unlike typical food allergies triggered by proteins, AGS is caused by an immune reaction to a specific sugar molecule called alpha-gal, which is found in most mammals but not in humans. This study explored how the body’s “allergy antibodies,” known as IgE, interact with this sugar and may help trigger allergic reactions.

To understand how this works, researchers focused on “effector cells”—immune cells like mast cells and basophils that release chemicals such as histamine during an allergic reaction. Instead of studying these cells directly in patients, the team created a specialized lab model using gene-editing technology (CRISPR) to remove any background alpha-gal from the cells. This allowed them to clearly observe how human IgE antibodies from people with AGS behaved without interference from the lab environment.

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One of the more surprising findings was that some of these alpha-gal-specific antibodies appeared to be somewhat “trigger-happy.” In most allergies, the antibody needs to encounter its specific trigger to activate a reaction. However, the researchers found that certain types of alpha-gal IgE could partially activate immune cells even without the sugar being present. This suggests that, in some individuals, the immune system may already be on higher alert, making reactions easier to trigger.

When alpha-gal was introduced, the response increased significantly. Cells sensitized with blood samples from people with AGS showed about a three-fold increase in activation markers compared to controls. The study also found that not all antibodies behaved the same way—different types (“clones”) of IgE produced different levels of activation. This variability may help explain why symptoms of AGS can differ so widely from person to person.

Importantly, the researchers also found that whole blood samples from patients triggered stronger signs of full allergic activation than the lab-made antibody clones alone. This suggests that while individual antibodies play a key role, other factors in the body likely contribute to the severity of reactions.

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The discovery that some antibodies can partially activate immune cells even without direct exposure to alpha-gal is especially significant. It suggests that these antibodies may lower the threshold needed to trigger a reaction, which could help explain why AGS symptoms can sometimes seem unpredictable or occur with very small exposures.

Overall, this study provides a clearer picture of how Alpha-gal Syndrome works at the cellular level. By showing that certain antibodies may help “prime” the immune system, the findings move researchers closer to developing treatments that go beyond strict avoidance and instead target the underlying biology of the allergy.

For our FAQ on AGS, including how to protect yourself and your family, see Q&A: Everything You Need to Know About Alpha-gal Syndrome, the Meat Allergy You Can ‘Catch’

Source: Alpha-gal–specific human IgE promotes both alpha-gal–induced and antigen-independent allergic effector cell activation — Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

FDA Removes Age Restriction for neffy® Nasal Epinephrine, Expanding Access for Young Children

By
Dave Bloom
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Boy using neffy

ARS Pharmaceuticals announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration has approved an update to the prescribing information for neffy® 1 mg, its needle-free epinephrine nasal spray. The change removes the previous minimum age requirement, allowing use in all patients—children and adults—who weigh at least 33 pounds, regardless of age.

Previously, pediatric patients had to meet both the weight threshold and be at least four years old. The update now opens access to younger children who meet the weight criteria, a group that includes a significant number of patients at risk for severe allergic reactions.

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“This is a major advancement for families with small children who live with the constant worry of severe allergic reactions,” said Richard Lowenthal, co-founder, president, and CEO of ARS Pharma. He noted that approximately 25% of patients weighing between 33 and 66 pounds are under the age of four, meaning many previously fell outside the labeled indication.

The updated labeling also includes practical guidance aimed at improving real-world use. It clarifies that sniffing after administration does not change how the reaction should be managed, and that a second dose is not needed if symptoms improve within five minutes. In addition, neffy may still be used if it has been accidentally frozen and thawed, and it can tolerate temperature excursions up to 122°F—important considerations for families on the go.

To support readiness during emergencies, the label now recommends carrying neffy in its blister packaging or in a dedicated carrying case. ARS Pharma currently provides these cases free of charge and plans to include one with every prescription beginning this summer. Each case is designed to hold two devices, consistent with guidance that a second dose may be needed if symptoms persist or return.

The move addresses longstanding barriers associated with traditional auto-injectors. “Parents often delay treatment because they are afraid of hurting their child with a needle,” said Nicole Chase, MD, an allergy/immunology and pediatrics specialist. “Having a needle-free option available to anyone who meets the weight criteria is an important step forward.”

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Despite epinephrine being the only FDA-approved treatment for anaphylaxis, studies show it remains underused. While an estimated 40 million Americans experience Type I allergic reactions, only about 20 million have been diagnosed and treated for severe forms, and just a fraction consistently carry and use their prescribed auto-injectors. Fear, complexity, and portability issues all contribute to delays in treatment.

neffy is currently available in two doses: 1 mg for patients weighing 33 up to 66 pounds, and 2 mg for those weighing 66 pounds or more. As with all epinephrine products, patients are advised to administer treatment immediately at the first sign of a severe allergic reaction and get emergency medical help for further treatment if needed after using neffy.

Source: ARS Pharmaceuticals Receives FDA Approval to Remove Age Requirement From neffy® 1 mg (epinephrine nasal spray) Label — Company Press Release

Note of Disclosure: ARS Pharma is an advertiser with SnackSafely.com

The 2026 Easter Guides: Tailor Them to Your Family’s Allergen and Gluten Restrictions

By
Dave Bloom
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Easter Editions

We’re hoppy to announce the publication of this year’s Easter Editions of the Safe Snack Guide, our extensive catalogs of allergy-friendly foods relied upon by thousands of schools and tens of thousands of families nationwide to help keep allergens out of the classroom and the home! This edition includes a dedicated section of Easter-themed treats to share with that special someone with allergen or gluten restrictions.

Need peanut-safe chocolate bunnies? Listed! Want jelly beans to line that basket for a certain someone with a sesame allergy? Check! Looking for gluten-free goodies you can order and have delivered? We’ve got ’em along with our usual lineup of over 3,000 allergy-friendly products from 200+ reliable manufacturers, many of which are also appropriate for the holiday.

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Each guide is interactive: click any entry to see precisely how that product is manufactured with respect to the 11 allergens we track (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, soy, wheat, fish, crustacean shellfish, sesame, mustard, and gluten) including shared line/facility information you won’t find on the label or anywhere else, as well as links to the product’s store finder, website, and Amazon page.

Download your updated copy of the Safe Snack Guide available in Peanut & Tree Nut Free, Milk Free, Sesame Free, Gluten Free, and over 9,000 Custom Editions tailored by our readers for their classroom or family’s specific mix of allergen restrictions! Or visit our Allergence product screening service and set up profiles for each family member with allergen restrictions.

Select your guide and let’s get hoppin’…

Experimental KIC-IT Protocol Shows Early Success in Reversing Infant Food Allergies

By
Dave Bloom
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Baby with Peanuts and Cashews

Researchers presenting at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting in Philadelphia last month reported early success with a novel protocol that induced sustained tolerance to peanut and cashew in three infants previously diagnosed with severe allergies.

The approach, known as the KIC-IT (Keep Introducing Consistently to Induce Tolerance) Protocol, takes advantage of the reduced allergenicity of minimally processed (raw) nuts before transitioning patients to roasted forms. The goal is not simply desensitization, but long-term tolerance that allows unrestricted consumption later in childhood.

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The study followed three high-risk infants who had experienced significant allergic reactions early in life. One presented at six months with peanut allergy and extensive atopic dermatitis, another at ten months with peanut and egg allergies, and a third at one year with cashew allergy and a complex gastrointestinal history.

“These are kids who showed anaphylaxis at 6 months, and instead of just saying ‘You get an EpiPen’ or ‘You have to avoid it,’ we found a way to allow a sustained tolerance so that we could change the rest of their life,” said allergist Rachel Kado.

A critical first step in the protocol is aggressive control of atopic dermatitis. Researchers required that eczema be completely clear before initiating therapy, using a proprietary non-steroidal, ceramide-rich topical designed to restore skin integrity and reduce systemic inflammation.

Oral introduction begins under close medical supervision, with carefully spaced doses and observation periods. Once a tolerable dose is established, families continue daily dosing at home, returning periodically for supervised escalation. This stepwise process continues until the child can tolerate three whole raw peanuts or cashews.

At that point, the protocol transitions to roasted nuts, which are more allergenic due to protein changes during processing. Researchers believe this progression may help strengthen immune regulation during a critical window of early-life immune development.

“If we just change the menu a little bit, and we give them the raw form first… we really could change the future to come with food allergy,” Kado said.

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All three infants ultimately achieved sustained, medication-free tolerance. By age four, each child was able to consume peanuts or cashews freely, without restriction or adverse reactions.

Notably, none of the participants required biologics or other immune-modulating therapies during treatment—an important distinction from many emerging food allergy interventions.

Researchers caution that the findings are based on a very small sample and require validation in larger, prospective trials. Still, they say the results highlight a potential new pathway for treating infants who do not respond to or qualify for existing early-introduction strategies.

“This is the renaissance of food allergy,” Kado said. “We have an alternative that could change your life.”

Source: Raw then roasted protocol reverses peanut, cashew allergy for three infants — Healio

Trust the Label? Recall Shows “Big Food” Doesn’t Care About Your Food Allergy

By
Dave Bloom
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Embarrassed Executives - AI Generated

You shop for someone with a severe food allergy. You read every ingredient label. You avoid products that say “May contain” or “Made in a facility that also processes” the allergen. That diligence matters—and we commend you. You’re doing everything right.

But here’s the problem: the system isn’t designed to protect you. To illustrate, let’s look at a recent recall from Frito-Lay, the massive snack division of PepsiCo.

On March 7, SnackSafely issued an advisory regarding an FDA recall of Miss Vickie’s Spicy Dill Pickle Potato Chips due to undeclared milk, which poses a life-threatening risk of anaphylaxis for those with a milk allergy. Despite the company’s “stringent” manufacturing processes, milk-containing jalapeño-flavored chips were mistakenly mixed into the product.

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At this point, you might assume the packaging included a warning—something like “May contain milk” or “Made in a facility that processes milk.” That’s what careful shoppers rely on.

But in this case, there was no such warning on the label:

Miss Vickie's Label
Recalled product label showing no PAL warning for milk

Even digging deeper doesn’t help. A SmartLabel scan and review of the “Allergens” tab also failed to disclose any potential milk cross-contact:

Recalled product smartlabel scan
Recalled product smartlabel scan showing no PAL warning for milk

So how is this possible? Because those warnings—known as Precautionary Allergen Labeling (PAL)—are completely voluntary.

The FDA does not regulate when PAL statements should be used, how they should be worded, or where they should appear. The decision is left entirely to manufacturers—and many, including the largest manufacturers, choose not to include them.

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The result? Labels can tell you when a product is unsafe—but they can’t reliably tell you when it’s safe. For families managing food allergies, that’s an unacceptable gap.

In many cases, the only way to get a clearer picture is to call the manufacturer and hope the information provided is complete and accurate. That’s not a system—it’s a gamble.

It’s time for that to change.

We urgently need stronger allergen labeling regulations in the United States so families can trust that the foods they buy won’t result in a trip to the emergency room… or worse.

That’s why we’re asking you to support our petition calling on the FDA to implement four simple, commonsense reforms—including mandatory PAL disclosures.

Please consider signing and sharing the petition with family, friends, and coworkers and asking them to do likewise. Together, we can push for the transparency and protections the food allergy community deserves.

Click to sign and share the petition on Change.org

2026 FAF Summit: The Premier Gathering Shaping the Future of Food Allergy Research and Innovation

By
News Wire ~ 3rd Party Press Release
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FAF Summit 2026

The annual Food Allergy Fund Summit connects the brightest minds across science, policy, and investment to turn breakthroughs into action.

April 29, 2026 | 9:00 AM– 12:30 PM
Paley Center for Media | New York, NY

REGISTER TODAY

Post-Summit Exclusive Luncheon

Immediately following the signature Summit, continue the conversation and connect with researchers and CEOs from around the world advancing food allergy research and solutions over lunch.

April 29, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
The Modern | New York, NY

REQUEST AN INVITATION
FAF 2026 Summit Speakers
Source: Food Allergy Fund Summit — Food Allergy Fund

Dupilumab Shows Promise for Patients Struggling With OIT Side Effects

By
Dave Bloom
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Dupixent and Xolair - AI Generated

A new phase II trial, dubbed COMBINE, suggests that a sequential treatment of biologics may help improve the tolerability of multi-allergen oral immunotherapy (mOIT), particularly by reducing gastrointestinal (GI) side effects that often lead patients to abandon treatment. Specifically, adding dupilumab (Dupixent) after an initial course of omalizumab (Xolair) was associated with fewer GI symptoms, though it did not significantly improve the study’s primary long-term efficacy endpoint.

The study, presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology annual meeting, focused on the “tolerability barriers” that limit mOIT success. GI symptoms—such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea—are a common challenge during immunotherapy. In this trial, GI symptoms dropped to 0.013 events per OIT dose with dupilumab, compared to 0.033 in the placebo group, suggesting that dupilumab’s IL-4/IL-13 blockade may help patients better tolerate treatment.

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The multicenter trial involved 108 patients with an average age of 12.4 years, all of whom had a confirmed peanut allergy and at least one additional food allergy. Participants were divided into three groups to evaluate different combinations of omalizumab, dupilumab, and placebo. The primary endpoint was the ability to tolerate a peanut protein challenge at week 44, after biologic treatments had been discontinued.

Regarding efficacy, results were mixed. During the active desensitization phase at week 32, patients receiving the second biologic were more likely to tolerate higher doses of allergens (92% vs 63%). However, this advantage diminished after treatment stopped, and the week-44 primary endpoint was only numerically improved with dupilumab, without reaching statistical significance. As Tina Sindher, MD, noted, the benefits appeared to “equalize” once treatment was withdrawn.

Safety and tolerability findings stood out. Adverse event–related withdrawals occurred in the placebo group but not among those receiving dupilumab, reinforcing its potential role in helping patients stay on therapy. Researchers noted that a subset of patients—possibly around 20%—experience persistent GI symptoms during OIT, and these individuals may benefit most from additional biologic support.

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Cecilia Berin, PhD, highlighted that elevated levels of type 2 cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-13 have been linked to treatment failure, suggesting a path toward more personalized care. Identifying “high-type 2” patients early could help clinicians determine who is most likely to benefit from adding dupilumab to their treatment regimen.

While the study was limited by its sample size and lack of statistical significance for the primary endpoint, researchers remain optimistic. The findings suggest that while dupilumab may not be a universal solution for improving long-term outcomes, it could play an important role in making multi-allergen immunotherapy more tolerable—and therefore more achievable—for certain patients.

Source: Second Biologic Might Improve Tolerability of Multi-Food Allergy Immunotherapy — Medpage Today
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