Has anyone else seen or heard about this new drug currently being tested in the US? I found it on Google and cut and pasted it here:
"A new medication for those who are allergic to peanuts may be available soon after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided to "fast track" it's approval process for the experimental drug.
A drug is given fast-track status if it meets a medical need not currently being met by any medication. Tanox Inc. of Houston, TX is developing its TNX-901 drug to provide protection against reactions to unintentional peanut contact by people who have a severe allergy to peanuts.
Technically, fast-track status entitles Tanox to "meetings with the FDA for the agency's input on development plans, the option to submit its US marketing application in sections, and the option to base that application on surrogate endpoints," the company said.
An accidental casual contact with peanuts, or even inhaling small amounts of peanut particles can cause a severe allergic reaction and even death for those who suffer from this condition. Peanut allergy is probably the most common cause of death by food anaphylaxis in the United States.
Currently, the only recourse for those who have a severe reaction to peanuts is an epinephrine injection, which can open up the airways and blood vessels after an peanut allergy attack has occurred. There are currently no medications available that would prevent such a reaction from taking place in those who are allergic to peanuts.
The drug has completed a phase II trial and additional studies are being planned, Tanox officials said."
This wasn't dated, but it was on the news here last night so I think it must have got the fasttrack approval. They said it would allow someone who would normally react to one or two nuts to be able to have up to approx 9 whole peanuts without a reaction. Dh and I were very excited (as dd is highly allergic to peanut) - until they said it was about 3 years away. That was in the US I guess, so it could be longer before it gets to other countries. Still it is promising - and great to know someone somewhere is working on it!