A 44-year-old man with a life-threatening peanut allergy can now eat a handful of peanuts every morning as part of his daily routine, thanks to a “life-changing” medical study.
Richard Lassiter, who has experienced multiple hospitalisations due to accidental peanut exposure, now consumes four peanuts each morning, describing it as “taking his medicine”.
Lassiter’s severe allergy previously dictated his life, requiring constant vigilance to avoid even trace amounts of peanuts.
This new development offers a glimpse into a future where adults with peanut allergies might be able to live without the constant fear of accidental exposure.
Experts highlight that previous desensitisation studies primarily focused on children, leaving adults with limited treatment options.
This new research, however, suggests that similar treatments could be effective for adults, potentially revolutionising allergy care. While further research is needed, the study’s success provides hope for thousands of adults living with the daily challenges of severe peanut allergies.
Health officials said the trial gives “hope” to thousands of people. The peanut desensitisation, also known as oral immunotherapy, works by introducing micro amounts of peanuts and gradually increasing the dosage to build up immunity.
Mr Lassiter, an executive coach from Beckenham in Greater London, was diagnosed with a peanut allergy as a child.
He told the PA news agency that he “managed” his condition but always felt nervous eating out.
“I had a really severe episode on our once-in-a-lifetime holiday to Chile with my wife in 2018 that changed everything,” he said.
He said that the episode occurred when they were on holiday “1,000 miles from anywhere” when he was given food with peanuts in.
Mr Lassiter took his auto-injector pen, and his inhaler to ease his breathing, and was taken to hospital by ambulance.
He had to stay in a high dependency unit overnight where he needed adrenaline and oxygen.
“It was a real shock, because obviously we’re a long way away from home,” he told PA.
“I recall saying to my wife: ‘I can’t keep dealing with this, it’s just so terrifying’.”
On another occasion, during a meal out in Soho in London, Mr Lassiter said that he accidentally ate peanuts after they were hidden under some ice cream.
“Within a few seconds, I knew I was in trouble.
“By the time I was in St Thomas’s it was pretty bad – I remember I’d swollen up to a huge size relative to my normal size and asking the nurse if I was going to make it.”
Speaking about the new study, he said: “I got to the point where I was having a total of four peanuts a day, which I still take to this day.
“This morning I had my four peanuts after I ate my breakfast, as if it was some sort of a teaspoon of medicine.”
He added: “It’s been life-changing for me – it’s increased my confidence immeasurably.
“It’s had a huge effect on my life. I feel much calmer, much happier and really excited about the ability to do all of these things in the future.”
Researchers from King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust stressed that this type of treatment should only be initiated under very close supervision.
Their new study, published in the journal Allergy, saw 18 adults with a typical peanut allergy gradually desensitised to peanuts.
After their allergy was confirmed by teams in hospital, patients were given small amounts of peanut flour to eat at home, starting with the equivalent of 0.5% to 1% of a whole peanut.
Their dosage increased gradually and once they could tolerate 50-100mg of peanut protein they were switched to eating whole peanuts, peanut butter or peanut products.
By the end of the study, which was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, two thirds (67%) were able to eat the equivalent of five peanuts without reacting.
Chief investigator Stephen Till, professor of allergy at King’s College London and consultant allergist at Guy’s and St Thomas’, told the PA news agency: “The problem is that once I see (adult) patients in my clinic, there’s been nothing that we’ve been able to do to them – we can’t offer them desensitisation because the data is all from young children – in medicine you can’t give treatment to children or to adults based on a clinical trial that’s been performed in the other group.
“So we have got this sort of, and continue to have this sort of big unmet need of adults with peanut allergy.”
He added: “We were really pleased because we got the evidence that we hoped we would get – we saw results that were broadly in line with with what been obtained from studies in young children.
“Our phase two study suggests that this treatment is is potentially effective in adults.”
But he said larger studies were needed to confirm findings and stressed that food immunotherapy “definitely must be done under very close clinical supervision”.
Commenting on the study, public health minister Ashley Dalton said: “This ground-breaking research offers hope to thousands living with peanut allergies.
“For too long, people have navigated daily life in fear of accidental exposure that could be life-threatening.”
Professor Lucy Chappell, chief scientific adviser at the Department of Health and Social Care and chief executive of the NIHR said: “These results mark an important milestone in allergy treatment and offers new hope to adults living with peanut allergies.
“For adults who have long lived with the daily burden and fear of accidental exposure they may have a pathway toward greater safety and an improved quality of life.”
Commenting on the study, Adam Fox, chair of the National Allergy Study Group, and professor of paediatric allergy at King’s College London, said: “Conventional wisdom has been that oral immunotherapy for food is really just for children and there is clear evidence that the younger it is started, the safer and better the outcome.
“However, that doesn’t mean that the benefits would not still be worthwhile for adults, and this study shows that for many, oral immunotherapy for peanut at least, can still make a real difference.
“This is only a small study and we hope to see larger studies to follow, but it’s an important proof of principle that this may well be a treatment for adults too.
“However, this treatment requires careful medical supervision and should never be attempted without this.”
