Allergen immunotherapy has been around for over a hundred years now, and many advances have been made in the treatment and diagnosis of allergies. However, many people, especially in North America and Europe, still have to run the gauntlet of severe allergic reactions every time they ingest a given food.

It’s estimated that scores of people die every year in the USA and Europe due to allergic reactions triggered by eating peanuts, which is why DBV-Technologies (www.dbv-technologies.com) has made it a priority to come up with a solution to this particular problem.

The Viaskin® patch (see above), is an unremarkable-looking adhesive patch, with a remarkable design. It contains small quantities of an antigen in powdered form, which is delivered through the patient’s skin without the need for adjuvants or injections. A condensation chamber helps hydrate the skin, which in turn facilitates the rapid delivery of the antigens.

At http://www.dbv-technologies.com/en/products/allergy-treatments/viaskin-peanut/ , you’ll find all you need to know about how the patch could be used to desensitize patients suffering from a peanut allergy. DBV-Technologies have also developed similar patches for cow’s milk protein and house dust mite allergies.