New research aimed at treating children with severe peanut and milk allergies has found exposure to triggers could help build immunity.
The trial is being funded by the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, which was set up by Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse after their daughter Natasha died in 2016 due to a severe allergic reaction to a Pret sesame-stuffed baguette.
It is being conducted at five NHS hospitals that have shared £2.5 million in funding.
The oral immunotherapy (OIT) trial introduces everyday foods to allergy sufferers under clinical supervision, gradually helping them build a potentially lifesaving tolerance.
Sibel Sonmez-Ajtai, paediatric allergy consultant and principal investigator at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This study is enabling us to do something we would never have dreamed of doing before giving patients the foods we know they are allergic to.
“To have a patient who has had anaphylaxis to 4mls of milk to then tolerate 90mls within six to eight months is nothing less than a miracle.”
Thomas Farmer, aged 11 and diagnosed with a severe peanut allergy at just one year old, has made remarkable strides after participating in a groundbreaking trial in Southampton, now able to consume six peanuts daily.
His mother, Lauren, added: “Having food allergies can be really difficult and isolating … (but) our journey on the Natasha study has been amazing so far.”
“At first, it was very scary for both Thomas and us when he did the food challenge, as we weren’t sure what to expect.”
Lauren shared the significant impact this has had on their lives: “Knowing that Thomas can now tolerate six peanuts a day has taken away so much anxiety around food.”
She also highlighted the potential for a more varied diet: “It will also hopefully mean that he will be able to eat a wider variety of food as we won’t be so concerned about accidental exposure.
“For Thomas to be able to achieve all this with no medicine, just off-the-shelf foods, is amazing.”
Meanwhile, in Newcastle, five-year-old Grace Fisher, who suffers from a milk allergy, has progressed to drinking 120ml of milk each day thanks to the trial. This advancement brings her closer to enjoying pizza with her friends.
Emma, Grace’s mother, shared their positive experience: “Grace is over six months into this journey and is doing amazing.”
“She is currently on 120ml of milk and loves her daily hot chocolates.”
The trial has welcomed 139 participants ranging from two to 23 years old, all managing allergies to peanuts or cow’s milk.
This pioneering trial is conducted across several NHS Trusts, including University Hospital Southampton, Imperial College Healthcare, University Hospitals of Leicester, Newcastle Hospitals, and Sheffield Children’s.
The groundbreaking trial is set to commence in Scotland, with Bristol and Leeds poised to follow suit. If the three-year trial proves successful, it could bolster the case for treatments using everyday foods to be offered on the NHS.
Currently, the NHS funds Palforzia a treatment involving peanut powder capsules that help build tolerance.
Mrs Ednan-Laperouse said: “We are so happy that some children with peanut and milk allergies are already seeing the benefits of using everyday foods under medical supervision to treat their allergic disease.”
“If Natasha were alive today, this is exactly the type of research she would have loved to be part of.”
“This is a major first step in our mission to make food allergies history. We look forward to seeing the final results.”
Mr Ednan-Laperouse said: “We can’t rely on big pharma and its giant profits to be a game-changer for people living with allergies.”
“That is why we are harnessing the support of the food industry, who have helped fund this trial, to prove that OIT can work with everyday foods, making it more feasible to be available on the NHS.”
The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation is funding the trial, with donations coming from a host of firms including Pret, Lidl, Leon, Uber Eats, Greggs, Tesco, Just Eat, Co-op, Morrisons, KFC, Sainsbury’s, Costa, Burger King, Domino’s, Kellogg’s, M&S, Muller and Waitrose. The complete results are anticipated to be released in 2027.
