The Grown Up Peanut Immunotherapy study (GUPI)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A single arm phase II efficacy study of peanut oral immunotherapy in adults with peanut allergy
IRAS ID
225583
Contact name
Stephen Till
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Peanut allergy is one of the most important food allergies in the UK and is usually lifelong. Constant fear of severe or fatal reactions affects quality of life. An estimated 1 in 50 UK children are peanut allergic and around 80% will become adults with a lifelong peanut allergy. Recent USA and UK studies have shown that peanut allergic children can be desensitised. This involves eating a tiny amount of peanut daily, which is gradually increased over time. A downside is that this can trigger allergic reactions, especially in the early stages of peanut dose increases, so these steps are always done in a day hospital. Most children are able to eventually tolerate enough (typically over 10 peanuts) to protect them from accidental reactions.
However, this treatment has never been properly tested in adults.Without evidence that it is safe and works, allergy specialists cannot consider using peanut desensitisation to treat adults. Why might adults and children be different? Firstly, there is evidence suggesting nut reactions in adults are worse. Secondly, the immune system becomes less flexible with age, so it is possible that this approach might not work.
Our aim is to test if peanut immunotherapy is effective and safe in adults. If so, this approach might benefit future patients in NHS allergy services. We have held discussion groups with patients, who agreed that this could be a life-changing treatment for them. We will test peanut desensitisation in 25 adults attending the Adult Allergy Service at Guy’s Hospital in a 3 year project. Each participant will undergo gradual desensitisation by eating peanut protein over several months. They will then undergo a test exposure to peanut to establish if they are protected. We will also be recruiting 15 peanut allergic controls who will undergo some of the investigations but not desensitisation.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/LO/1901
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jan 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion