Following press reports about a cure for peanut allergies, an assessment of the source of these reports has been carried out by NHS Choices.

The report was based on news about the start of a large RCT following a successful pilot study of peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT), in which allergic children were repeatedly exposed to strictly controlled doses of peanut protein. The news stories are based on research carried out by Dr Andrew Clark and colleagues from Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Dr Clark presented the plans for the RCT during his presentation to the AAAS conference. There is only limited information publicly available about the trial, but it is known to involve 104 participants. who will be randomised to peanut OIT or no treatment. The trial will cost £1 million, sponsored by the Department of Health’s Institute of Health Research, and will run for three years. Children will be given the equivalent of up to five nuts per day in a carefully controlled dosing schedule that depends on their initial tolerance.

The assessment notes that the strong study design will provide robust answers to questions about the efficacy and safety of this treatment for children with allergies, but in the meantime, it stresses the following:

• These trials are taking place under carefully controlled conditions and it is vitally important that no attempts are made to replicate the treatment at home as severe allergic reactions can be fatal.

• Until it is available, parents should continue to manage their children’s exposure as they have been doing.

• It should be noted that this treatment is not a cure, and several unknowns need to be addressed, including whether this treatment works in adults and the nature of its long-term effects in children.