‘Xolair is a tremendous breakthrough for severe food allergy treatment’
FDA approval will ease minds of millions with severe food allergy, expert says
CHICAGO --- Food allergy expert, Dr. Ruchi Gupta, is available to comment on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the asthma drug Xolair to treat severe food allergies.
Dr. Gupta is the director of the Center for Food Allergy & Asthma and a professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
“This is a tremendous breakthrough for food allergy treatment,” Gupta said. “We now have an FDA-approved biologic for multiple food allergies that reduces the risk of anaphylaxis if individuals accidentally ingest an allergen. This will ease the minds of millions of individuals — children, their parents and adults — who live with severe food allergies. It is life changing.”
Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can include a skin rash, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing and shock. If not treated right away, usually with epinephrine, it can result in unconsciousness or death.
Xolair does not replace epinephrine, which is administered as an emergency injection, but reduces the likelihood of it being needed.
Dr. Gupta is currently traveling abroad but can be reached by texting her at 312-523-3552 or emailing r-gputa@northwestern.edu.