Re: [POFAK] Anti-IgE intravenous treatment

[Guest guest]

I couldn't get that link to work, but there are two kinds of anti-IgE

studies going on. Dr. Wood spoke about both of these last year at the FAN

conference, and not much new was reported at this year's FAN conference.

One is being worked on specifically for peanut allergy by Dr. Sampson and

his team, and is in Stage I-II clinical trials. The theory is targeting at

turning off the allergic response specifically for the peanut protein. Once

the researchers get this all figured out, then they will be able to more

quickly develop similar treatments for other foods, but he thinks we are

still 5-10 years away from this being available.

The other is an anti-IgE therapy that is in Stage III clinical trials right

now for allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and asthma. It is showing positive

results for *reducing* the allergic response, but it is not stopping it

entirely. He said this kind of therapy may possibly be useful, but it is

unclear if it will lessen or stop an existing allergy. He said it remains

to be seen if this kind of anti-IgE therapy will work for food allergy. He

thinks this kind of therapy is more likely to be a stop-gap measure until

something better comes along, as all it may do is lessen allergy rather than

eliminate it. He thinks there is a 5-10 year horizon on this type of

therapy too.

Dr. Wood did say the greatest hope for the future was a type of therapy that

really hasn't begun to be developed yet that will shut off TH2 development

and eliminate the way the body's immune system goes awry and develops

allergies in the first place. TH2 is a type of T cell that the body

produces that causes the whole allergy process to develop.

I hope I got this info write. This is from notes I took at last Saturday's

conference.

Lynda

----- Original Message -----

> From: Abstractage@...

>

> Hello all:

>

> http://healthsurfing.com/2000/03/21/ " >Click here:

HealthSurfing.com<

> /A>

>

> This site is a news article touching on the anti-IgE intravenous

treatment.

> Is anyone familiar with it?