The phase 2b trial – one of the latest stages before it can be approved for the market – involved 221 people with peanut allergies aged between six and 55 years old.
For two years, a quarter of the patients were treated with a placebo, while the other three-quarters received one of three strengths of the skin patch.
They were assessed every 12 months by receiving incremental doses of peanut to monitor their reaction.
Those who received the strongest patch were 10 times more resilient than those who received the placebo, according to the report published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) today.
There was no difference between the placebo and the two weaker strengths.
Lead author Dr Hugh Sampson said the results show that the patch is effective if it administers a high dose, despite fears that it flopped in previous trials.
Last month, a report revealed the patch was no more effective for 300 child patients than a placebo.
However, manufacturer DBV Technologies, who plan to trade the patch under the name Viaskin, already had Dr Sampson’s data and insisted they still planned to move towards filing for FDA approval.
A spokesman said the FDA even encouraged them to proceed with trials and applications based on provisional data.
<
