Peanut allergy is one of the most widespread – and frightening – food allergies in existence. Millions of people are allergic to this one foodstuff, and annually, over 100 people die and more than 125,000 people are given emergency treatment for this allergy in the USA alone. What’s more, between the late 1990s and 2008, the prevalence of peanut allergy amongst children has almost quadrupled.
That’s the bad news – the good news is to be found on the DBV-Technologies website , where you’ll find details of an exciting new way of treating peanut allergies. The Viaskin® peanut patch (http://www.dbv-technologies.com/en/viaskin-products/viaskin-peanut) offers a simple, yet technologically-advanced approach to desensitizing patients to their allergy. The diagram below demonstrates the main components of this adhesive patch, including its condensation chamber, which moisturizes the skin, its adhesive crown and its titanium backing. This backing is a crucial element when combined with the electrospray which sprays electrically-charged protein particles (the antigen) onto the skin. These active compounds can penetrate the skin and start interacting immediately with the tolerogenic Langerhans cells in the epidermis – building up the body’s tolerance to peanut proteins without putting the patient at the risk of an anaphylactic shock!