Peanut allergy overcome four years after Melbourne breakthrough

EXCLUSIVE: TWO-THIRDS of children with peanut allergies have been seemingly cured of the deadly condition through a world-first Melbourne medical breakthrough.

Two-thirds of children with peanut allergies, including Olivia May, 10, have been seemingly cured of the deadly condition through a world-first Melbourne medical breakthrough. Picture: Eugene Hyland

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TWO-THIRDS of children with peanut allergies have been seemingly cured of the deadly condition through a world-first Melbourne medical breakthrough that may be adapted to other food allergies.

More than four years after completing a trial of an experimental peanut-probiotic treatment, most of the children can freely eat the nuts.

Results of a new Murdoch Children’s Research Institute study are the first to prove a long-term ability to suppress the allergic reaction.

Peanut allergies are the most common cause of anaphylaxis and one of the most frequent causes of death from food allergy.

Pioneered by Prof Mimi Tang, the MCRI breakthrough also provides a blueprint to overcome other allergies by combining a gradual introduction of the dangerous foods with high-dose probiotics.

Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Professor Mimi Tang says children involved in the trial are eating peanuts at free will.

“They are eating peanuts at will,” Prof Tang said.

“It basically means we were able to get children with peanut allergy to the point they can live like somebody that doesn’t have peanut ­allergy.

“It is a fantastic feeling to think that maybe we are making a difference. Maybe we are onto something that is going to change the lives of these children with peanut allergies, and maybe all food allergies.

“I can’t even express it — it is just a wonderful, wonderful feeling that all the years of hard work have possibly, actually brought something home.”

An initial study of the Probiotic and Peanut Oral Immunotherapy found that 82 per cent of allergic children could tolerate nuts two weeks after ceasing the treatment.

But a further examination, published on Wednesday in medical journal The Lancet, found 20 out of 24 children who were able to eat peanuts in the weeks after the initial trial can still tolerate them an average of 4.2 years later.

“Our findings are really exciting they because suggest a cure is a realistic target for us in treating food allergies,” Prof Tang said.

“This is a very promising approach now to deal with the increasing food allergy epidemic worldwide.”

The MCRI last year received an $8 million boost from a capital investment firm to fast-track the therapy so it can be available within 10 years, while other funds are being sought to further the research at crackingcures.org

But Olivia May, 10, already knows how wonderful the treatment can be, becoming completely tolerant of peanuts and now free to go to friends’ houses and on school camps without fear.

Olivia May, 10, is now able to eat peanuts without having an allergic reaction. Picture: Eugene Hyland

A tiny bite of a peanut sandwich when aged two caused Olivia’s lips to swell as the first sign of a dangerous allergy — locking her family into years of stress, ­meticulously planning for every move and meal.

But now mum Tanya says: “She now has about eight Peanut M&Ms every week. We don’t have any concerns now about where we eat, her going to parties or having sleepovers. It is a huge relief.”

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