DBV Technologies is working on a patch to come to the rescue of the 1.5 million children in the US that are allergic to peanuts.
Business Insider reports that inside each patch is a sprayed-on sample of peanut protein. Once put on, the protein makes its way into your immune system through your skin. Since it's delivered this way, the allergen never makes it to the bloodstream, which would cause the allergic reaction you're trying to avoid.
In data presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology conference the company showed that 83% of children ages 6 to 11 who took part in the trial could eat 1,000 milligrams of peanuts without having an allergic reaction after wearing a patch for three years.
Typically, the only way to lessen an allergic reaction is through "desensitization," a process in which you gradually introduce small amounts of the allergen into your body. Or by treating the symptoms by using antihistamines like Benadryl or shots of epinephrine in extreme cases.
Allergies are the sixth-leading cause of chronic disease in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 4% to 6% of children in the US have food allergies, with peanuts being one of the worst offenders.
DBV is a company to watch as they are also developing patches for milk and egg allergies as well as for Crohn's disease, celiac disease, and Type 1 diabetes that use the same immunotherapy technology.