NEW FDA-APPROVED DRUG MAKES SEVERE FOOD ALLERGIES LESS LIFE-THREATENING

Summary from the TLDR newsletter

The FDA has approved an antibody drug called omalizumab (brand name Xolair) as an injection to lessen allergic reactions to foods in people ages 1 and up. The drug works by binding to a class of antibodies called immunoglobulin E, preventing them from triggering an allergic response. It doesn't eliminate food allergies, but it will help reduce the health impact if accidental exposure occurs. The drug's effects are not universal - in studies, around 17% of the people receiving the drug showed no significant improvement in their sensitivity to allergy-triggering food.