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October 17, 2006
Peanut Extract for Use in Duke University Study
Greer Provides Extract for Duke University Study Evaluating Sublingual-Oral Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergies
LENOIR, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Greer, a leading developer and provider of allergy immunotherapy products and source materials, is providing peanut extract to Duke University Medical Center for their sublingual-oral immunotherapy study. The study is designed to evaluate whether sublingual-oral immunotherapy with an extract from raw peanut source materials is a safe and effective treatment for children and adults with peanut allergies. Wesley Burks (http://www.dukemednews.org/experts/detail.php?id=352), M.D., chief of the division of pediatric allergy and immunology at Duke University Medical Center, is the principle investigator for the study which is being funded through a grant from the National Institutes of Health.
“Greer was able to provide the peanut extract we needed for the two-year duration of the Duke study,” says Dr. Burks. “I have worked with Greer in the past on research initiatives and once again the company was very helpful in supplying the materials we needed to launch the study.”
Nearly three million Americans are allergic to peanuts and brief or accidental contact with peanuts kills hundreds of people each year. The goal of the Duke study is to determine whether exposing participants to peanuts, by giving them small drops of peanut extract under the tongue, will make them less sensitive to the allergen.
“This is an exciting milestone and marks a major step in the study of peanut allergies,” says Dr. Robert Esch, Greer executive Vice President of Research & Development. “Dr. Burks’ research will address the need for well-controlled, long-term trials for specific oral tolerance induction in food allergy. His work represents a promising approach for treating food allergies and improving the quality of life of peanut-allergic patients.”
Posted by David at October 17, 2006 11:54 AM