US Approves Asthma Drug to Treat Food Allergies
2024-02-27
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2The U.S. food and drug agency has approved a medication already used to treat the breathing condition asthma to treat people for food allergies.
3On February 16, the United States Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) approved Xolair for a new use.
4Xolair has become the first medication approved by the FDA to reduce allergic reactions caused by food allergies.
5Xolair is the brand name, or commercial name, for the drug omalizumab.
6Many people who suffer from allergies - and their families -worry about exposure to things that cause allergic reactions.
7They might avoid eating at restaurants.
8They also might avoid social situations in which they might come into contact with something that causes their allergy.
9Dr. Robert Wood is director of the pediatric allergy division at Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
10The FDA based its decision on research that Wood led.
11And the National Institutes of Health supported the allergy study.
12One hundred sixty-eight people with allergies to peanuts and at least two other foods took part in the study.
13It found that 68 percent of the people injected with Xolair were able to have about 600 milligrams of peanut protein without serious problems.
14That number compares to only six percent of those who received an inactive substance instead of the drug.
15The results of the study were similar for other allergens, or things that commonly cause allergies, such as tree nuts, milk, eggs, and wheat.
16Full results from the study are expected to be presented at a meeting and released in a peer-reviewed publication in the near future.
17Wood said: "To have this protection is going to be life changing."
18Wood estimated that 25 to 50 percent of people with food allergies, especially children and young adults, would choose to use Xolair.
19Patients as young as one year of age with food allergies can take the drug by injection every two to four weeks.
20This depends on their weight and their body's response to allergens.
21People who use Xolair must continue to avoid the foods that cause allergic reactions.
22These foods are often peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, milk products, and eggs.
23However, the medication appears to permit exposure to higher amounts of allergy-causing foods without causing major reactions.
24Until now, doctors have used the drug to treat food allergies although that has not been its officially approved use, said Dr. Ruchi Gupta.
25Such a second use for a drug is called "off-label."
26Gupta is director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research at Northwestern University in Chicago.
27She welcomed full approval of the product.
28Xolair works by blocking the body's natural response to allergens.
29It is known as a monoclonal antibody.
30The FDA first approved the drug in 2003.
31It is used to treat asthma, growths in the nose, and long-term skin problems known as chronic hives.
32Swiss drug companies Novartis and Roche produce Xolair, and it is distributed by a part of Roche, called Genentech.
33The most common side effects of Xolair are injection site reactions and high body temperatures.
34However, the FDA noted that the drug has also caused joint pain, rash, infections, malignancies, and abnormal laboratory tests.
35Xolair also comes with a warning.
36The treatment itself can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that causes breathing and blood pressure problems.
37For that reason, the treatment must be started in a health care center with equipment that can deal with such emergencies.
38In addition, the drug is not approved as an emergency treatment for allergic reactions.
39Genentech says Xolair is expected to cost about $2,900 a month for children and $5,000 a month for adults.
40The company said patients usually pay less because their health insurance often pays most of the cost of many drugs.
41And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2The U.S. food and drug agency has approved a medication already used to treat the breathing condition asthma to treat people for food allergies. 3On February 16, the United States Food and Drug Administration (or FDA) approved Xolair for a new use. Xolair has become the first medication approved by the FDA to reduce allergic reactions caused by food allergies. 4Xolair is the brand name, or commercial name, for the drug omalizumab. 5Many people who suffer from allergies - and their families -worry about exposure to things that cause allergic reactions. They might avoid eating at restaurants. They also might avoid social situations in which they might come into contact with something that causes their allergy. 6Dr. Robert Wood is director of the pediatric allergy division at Johns Hopkins Children's Center. The FDA based its decision on research that Wood led. And the National Institutes of Health supported the allergy study. 7One hundred sixty-eight people with allergies to peanuts and at least two other foods took part in the study. It found that 68 percent of the people injected with Xolair were able to have about 600 milligrams of peanut protein without serious problems. That number compares to only six percent of those who received an inactive substance instead of the drug. 8The results of the study were similar for other allergens, or things that commonly cause allergies, such as tree nuts, milk, eggs, and wheat. Full results from the study are expected to be presented at a meeting and released in a peer-reviewed publication in the near future. 9Wood said: "To have this protection is going to be life changing." 10Wood estimated that 25 to 50 percent of people with food allergies, especially children and young adults, would choose to use Xolair. 11Patients as young as one year of age with food allergies can take the drug by injection every two to four weeks. This depends on their weight and their body's response to allergens. 12People who use Xolair must continue to avoid the foods that cause allergic reactions. These foods are often peanuts, cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, milk products, and eggs. However, the medication appears to permit exposure to higher amounts of allergy-causing foods without causing major reactions. 13Until now, doctors have used the drug to treat food allergies although that has not been its officially approved use, said Dr. Ruchi Gupta. Such a second use for a drug is called "off-label." Gupta is director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma Research at Northwestern University in Chicago. She welcomed full approval of the product. 14Xolair works by blocking the body's natural response to allergens. It is known as a monoclonal antibody. The FDA first approved the drug in 2003. It is used to treat asthma, growths in the nose, and long-term skin problems known as chronic hives. 15Swiss drug companies Novartis and Roche produce Xolair, and it is distributed by a part of Roche, called Genentech. 16The most common side effects of Xolair are injection site reactions and high body temperatures. However, the FDA noted that the drug has also caused joint pain, rash, infections, malignancies, and abnormal laboratory tests. 17Xolair also comes with a warning. The treatment itself can cause anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction that causes breathing and blood pressure problems. For that reason, the treatment must be started in a health care center with equipment that can deal with such emergencies. In addition, the drug is not approved as an emergency treatment for allergic reactions. 18Genentech says Xolair is expected to cost about $2,900 a month for children and $5,000 a month for adults. The company said patients usually pay less because their health insurance often pays most of the cost of many drugs. 19And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. I'm Anna Matteo. 20JoNel Aleccia reported this story for Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 21The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content. 22__________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24asthma -n. a long-term condition involving problems with breathing 25allergy -n. a strong reaction to a substance that does not normally cause a reaction in most people 26commercial -adj. related to business and aimed at making a profit 27exposure --n. an incident in which a person is in the presence of some substance and comes in contact with it or breathes it in 28peer-reviewed -adj. research that has undergone a process of being studied by independent professionals of similar knowledge who judge it to be up to the level required by a publication 29site -n. an exact place such as a place on the body where an injection is made 30rash -n. a skin condition that involves pain, swelling, redness or itchiness 31distribute -v. to provide a produce to businesses which then sell it for use by the public 32malignancy -n. a growth that is the product of disease or cancer 33We want to hear from you. 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