Omalizumab for the treatment of food allergies … and other research

In this Opinion by Ann Robinson (BMJ 2024;384:q547; doi:10.1136/bmj.q547) the first item should have stated: “Apart from scrupulous avoidance of allergens, which is easier said than done, the only approved treatment is oral immunotherapy for peanut allergy” [not “… oral immunotherapy, omalizumab, for peanut allergy”].

Omalizumab is an injectable monoclonal anti-IgE antibody used to treat severe persistent allergic forms of asthma, nasal polyps, and urticaria (and in the US since February 2024 food allergy). The study summarised by Ann Robinson had investigated whether omalizumab would be effective and safe as monotherapy in patients with multiple food allergies.