The purpose of this study is to determine if walnut oral immunotherapy can be used in participants allergic to tree nuts to reduce tree nut allergy and induce changes in the participant's immune system.
Randomized, placebo controlled, Phase 1-2 study conducted at Arkansas Children's Hospital Research Institute (ACHRI) in tree nut allergic participants, ages 6-45 years with randomization following a 2:1 (active:placebo) format. The overall objectives were to evaluate the efficacy of walnut oral immunotherapy (WOIT) for induction of desensitization to walnut (secondary outcome) and a test tree nut (primary outcome) when compared to placebo after 38 weeks of treatment as assessed by double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges (DBPCFC) to walnut and a test tree nut in tree nut allergic participants (defined by allergic reaction to \</= 2 grams of walnut and test tree nut proteins during DBPCFC at study entry). Placebo participants were crossed-over to active therapy after unblinding at week 38. Participants were followed long-term (up to 6 years) on open-label WOIT treatment and assessed at yearly intervals based on pre-specified criteria for clinical outcomes of desensitization to walnut and a test tree nut (defined as safely consuming 5 grams of walnut and test tree nut protein during DBPCFC while on daily WOIT) and sustained unresponsiveness to walnut and a test tree nut (defined as safely consuming 5 grams of walnut and test tree nut protein during DBPCFC and 10 grams during an open feeding while off therapy for 4-6 weeks). Secondary outcomes were evaluated including safety and immune mechanistic parameters.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
22
Blinded study product dosing begins with a 1-day oral desensitization protocol to walnut for subjects in the active arm. Starting at 0.1 mg protein and increasing to a maximum of 6 mg or until allergic symptoms develop. Subjects continue daily dosing of blinded OIT (walnut) with build-up every 2 weeks to a maximum daily dose of 1500mg at week 34, followed by 4 weeks of daily maintenance dosing. OFC to walnut and second tree nut occurs at week 38 then treatment is unblinded and open-label maintenance dosing occurs.
Blinded study product dosing begins with a one-day oral desensitization protocol with placebo (oat) powder. Subjects in the placebo group will undergo the same protocol as those in the active group with placebo OIT dosing. Unblinding to treatment assignment will occur after the 38 week oral food challenge. Placebo subjects will cross-over to active, open-label treatment with walnut powder after the 38 week oral food challenge. beginning with initial escalation day, through build-up and maintenance dosing per the same protocol sequence as noted for active, walnut powder. Subjects will complete an oral food challenge to walnut and the second tree nut at week 38 then will continue on long-term, open-label maintenance dosing until the end of study using same protocol design.
Arkansas Children's Hospital
Little Rock, Arkansas, United States
Effectiveness of Walnut OIT on Clinical Desensitization to Test Tree Nut as Measured by Change in Cumulative Tolerated Dose From Baseline to Week 38 at Oral Food Challenge
Determine in tree nut allergic subjects the effectiveness of walnut oral immunotherapy on clinical desensitization to a second tree nut ("test tree nut") causing allergy when compared to placebo treatment, as measured by the change in cumulative dose from baseline oral food challenge (OFC) to the OFC to the test tree nut at approximately 38 weeks on therapy.
Time frame: 38 weeks of therapy
Evaluation of Desensitization to Walnut Protein as Measured by Change in Cumulative Tolerated Dose From Baseline to Week 38 Oral Food Challenge
Determine in tree nut allergic subjects the effectiveness of walnut oral immunotherapy on clinical desensitization to walnut causing allergy when compared to placebo treatment, as measured by the change in cumulative dose from baseline oral food challenge (OFC) to the OFC to the walnut at approximately 38 weeks on therapy.
Time frame: 38 weeks
Number (Percentage) of Subjects Reaching a Cumulative Tolerated Dose of 2000mg Walnut Protein at Desensitization OFC at Week 38
The percentage of subjects reaching a cumulative protein dose of 2000mg at the desensitization oral food challenge to walnut at week 38
Time frame: 38 weeks
Number (Percentage) of Subjects Reaching a Cumulative Tolerated Dose of 2000mg Test Tree Nut Protein at Desensitization OFC at Week 38
Comparison of the number and percentage of subjects in each treatment arm reaching a cumulative protein dose of 2000mg at the week 38 (desensitization) oral food challenge to test tree nut
Time frame: 38 weeks
Number (Percentage) of Subjects Attaining Sustained Unresponsiveness to Walnut and Test Tree Nut Proteins at Week 298 Oral Food Challenge
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Open-label treatment phase begins after the 38 week oral food challenge with unblinding of treatment assignment. For those on active treatment, daily maintenance dosing occurs for up to a total of 298 weeks. For those on placebo treatment, cross-over to active, open-label treatment occurs using the same active treatment protocol. Placebo-crossover subjects will complete an oral food challenge to walnut and the second tree nut at week 38 of active therapy then continue on long-term, open-label maintenance dosing until the end of study using same protocol design. All subjects may reach a qualifying IgE to walnut/second tree nut early and will undergo an OFCs on and 4 weeks off OIT. All subjects will have OFCs on and 4 weeks off OIT at week 142 and at week 298, unless both walnut/second tree nut OFCs are passed at previous OFC prompting addition of these foods into the diet.
The percentage of subjects demonstrating sustained unresponsiveness to walnut and to the test tree nut by end of study. Analysis group combines both active and placebo-crossover participants during open-label extension arm through the end of study at week 298. Subjects were able to exit the study at assessment timepoints earlier than week 298 if they are able to pass the sustained unresponsiveness oral food challenge, thus the analysis included all subjects through week 298..
Time frame: up to 298 weeks on active treatment
Change in Skin Prick Test Wheal Size From Baseline to Week 142 in Active and Placebo Cross-over Subjects Receiving Active Walnut OIT
Evaluation of walnut OIT on the mast cell responses as measured through change in skin prick testing to walnut in participants who were treated with walnut OIT to week 142. Analysis group combines both active and placebo-crossover participants from baseline through open-label treatment phase until the end of study.
Time frame: 142 weeks
Serious Adverse Events Related to Walnut OIT Treatment
Incidence of treatment-related serious adverse events during the study
Time frame: 298 weeks active treatment