A regulator's view on AIT clinical trials in the United States and Europe: Why successful studies fail to support licensure.

Clinical studies demonstrate that efficacy and safety in allergen immunotherapy (AIT) are linked to a multiplicity of factors decisively influencing success or failure. In recent years, numerous trials were performed with correspondent study results published. Yet, the number of AIT products successfully obtaining licensure in the analogous time frame is comparably limited. Essential for licensure is that the AIT product investigated remains comparable in its qualitative and quantitative composition throughout the clinical development. Verification of efficacy is not solely demonstrated by a statistically significant difference between the test and control populations; it must also be shown to be clinically relevant. Choice of meaningful inclusion and end-point criteria is critical. Post hoc or subgroup analysis can be supportive but needs verification as predefined criteria in additional studies. Data analysis may be presented on varying analysis populations, while it should be based on the intention-to-treat population for regulatory review to allow objective assessment of the treatment effect on the overall study population. Apparently conflicting interpretations of clinical data between publications and regulatory review are frequently based on their inherently different objectives, with regulatory review taking into considerations the full data sets of all relevant clinical studies for the concerned AIT product to allow an informed decision on licensure.

Specific IgG4 antibodies to cow's milk proteins in pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Allergen-specific IgG4 (sIgG4) antibodies are often associated with tolerance, but sIgG4 antibodies to causally relevant foods have been reported recently in adults with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Prevalence and levels of food sIgG4 are not well established in the general pediatric population. OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate serum food sIgG4 with component diagnostics in children with EoE and children from an unselected birth cohort and to explore the effects of sex, age, and milk consumption on sIgG4 levels. METHODS: Sera from 71 pediatric patients with EoE and 210 early adolescent children from an unselected birth cohort (Project Viva) were assayed for sIgG4 and specific IgE (sIgE) to major cow's milk (CM) proteins (α-lactalbumin, ß-lactoglobulin, and caseins) and to wheat, soy, egg, and peanut proteins. RESULTS: In the EoE cohort high-titer sIgG4 (≥10 µg/mL) to CM proteins was more common than in control sera and achieved odds ratios for EoE ranging from 5.5 to 8.4. sIgE levels to CM proteins were mostly 4 IU/mL or less in patients with EoE, such that sIgG4/sIgE ratios were often 10,000 or greater. When adjusted for age and milk consumption, high-titer sIgG4 to CM proteins was strongly associated with EoE, with an odds ratio of greater than 20 to all 3 CM proteins in boys. CONCLUSIONS: sIgG4 to CM proteins are common and high titer in children with EoE. Although it is not clear that this response is pathogenic, sIgG4 levels imply that these antibodies are an important feature of the local immune response that gives rise to EoE.

Anaphylaxis to the carbohydrate side chain alpha-gal.

In 2007, the monoclonal antibody cetuximab caused severe hypersensitivity reactions during the first infusion in a region of the southeastern United States. Investigation of pretreatment sera established that they contained immunoglobulin (Ig) E against the oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (alpha-gal), which is present on the Fab of cetuximab. Alpha-gal is a blood group substance of nonprimate mammals. These IgE antibodies are also associated with delayed anaphylaxis to red meat (ie, to meat or organs of animals that carry this oligosaccharide). Evidence shows that the primary cause of these IgE antibodies is bites from the tick Amblyomma americanum or its larvae.

IgE Antibody Detection and Component Analysis in Patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Although IgE antibodies to cow's milk and wheat are common in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), titers are low and responses to diet are not dependent on having IgE antibodies. OBJECTIVE: To better define specific IgE antibody responses to foods, focusing on those foods that appear to play a role in EoE. METHODS: Adult (n = 46) and pediatric (n = 51) patients with EoE were recruited for skin prick testing and serum measurement (whole and diluted) of IgE antibodies specific for aeroallergens, food extracts, and component allergens by ImmunoCAP. Immuno Solid-phase Allergen Chip analysis was also used to measure the specificity of IgE antibodies to 112 allergen molecules. RESULTS: In adults and children, there was a higher prevalence of sensitization to food extracts by ImmunoCAP than by skin prick testing. Using Immuno Solid-phase Allergen Chip to assess the specificity of IgE antibodies to 112 allergen molecules, we found that results for food allergens were mostly negative. In contrast, ImmunoCAP assays for specific milk allergens gave positive IgE antibody results in 31 of 34 sera. The correlations between specific IgE antibody to Bos d 4 or Bos d 5 and milk extract were strong (R = 0.89 and 0.76, respectively; P < .001). The evidence that IgE antibodies to foods were directed at minor components of the extracts was further supported by measurements on diluted sera. CONCLUSIONS: The IgE responses in cow's milk-sensitized patients with EoE are frequently to whey proteins Bos d 4 and Bos d 5, minor components of the extract. These IgE assays may be able to identify the proteins that are relevant to EoE even though IgE is not the primary mechanism.

Delayed anaphylaxis to red meat masquerading as idiopathic anaphylaxis.

Anaphylaxis is traditionally recognized as a rapidly developing combination of symptoms that often includes hives and hypotension or respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, when a specific cause is identified, exposure to this cause is usually noted to have occurred within minutes to 2 hours before the onset of symptoms. This case is of a 79-year-old woman who developed a severe episode of anaphylaxis 3 hours after eating pork. Before 2012, she had not experienced any symptoms after ingestion of meat products. Delayed anaphylaxis to mammalian meat has many contrasting features to immediate food-induced anaphylaxis. The relevant IgE antibody is specific for the oligosaccharide galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose, a blood group substance of nonprimate mammals. There is evidence from Australia, Sweden, and the United States that the primary cause of this IgE antibody response is tick bites. These bites characteristically itch for 10 days or more. Diagnosis can be made by the presence of specific IgE to beef, pork, lamb, and milk, and the lack of IgE to chicken, turkey, and fish. Skin prick tests (but not intradermal tests) generally are negative. Management of these cases, now common across the southeastern United States, consists of education combined with avoidance of both ingestion of red meat and further tick bites.

Galactose-α-1,3-galactose and delayed anaphylaxis, angioedema, and urticaria in children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Despite a thorough history and comprehensive testing, many children who present with recurrent symptoms consistent with allergic reactions elude diagnosis. Recent research has identified a novel cause for "idiopathic" allergic reactions; immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody specific for the carbohydrate galactose-α-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) has been associated with delayed urticaria and anaphylaxis that occurs 3 to 6 hours after eating beef, pork, or lamb. We sought to determine whether IgE antibody to α-Gal was present in sera of pediatric patients who reported idiopathic anaphylaxis or urticaria. METHODS: Patients aged 4 to 17 were enrolled in an institutional review board-approved protocol at the University of Virginia and private practice allergy offices in Lynchburg, VA. Sera was obtained and analyzed by ImmunoCAP for total IgE and specific IgE to α-Gal, beef, pork, cat epithelium and dander, Fel d 1, dog dander, and milk. RESULTS: Forty-five pediatric patients were identified who had both clinical histories supporting delayed anaphylaxis or urticaria to mammalian meat and IgE antibody specific for α-Gal. In addition, most of these cases had a history of tick bites within the past year, which itched and persisted. CONCLUSIONS: A novel form of anaphylaxis and urticaria that occurs 3 to 6 hours after eating mammalian meat is not uncommon among children in our area. Identification of these cases may not be straightforward and diagnosis is best confirmed by specific testing, which should certainly be considered for children living in the area where the Lone Star tick is common.