Faculty mentor/PI email address
whelihan@rowan.edu
Is your research Teaching and Learning based?
1
Keywords
Omalizumab, exposure immunotherapy, anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, desensitization, allergy, immune response
Date of Presentation
5-6-2026 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
Background: Food allergy negatively impacts numerous children in the United States. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) and biologic therapy (omalizumab) are emerging promising strategies for desensitization. This literature review aims to compare the effectiveness of omalizumab and oral immunotherapy in pediatric populations.
Hypothesis: If the use of omalizumab therapy is used to treat children with food allergies compared to OIT, then there would be higher desensitization, lower post-treatment IgE levels, higher IgG4 levels, and decreased chance of a positive skin prick test.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, and The Lancet databases were searched using PRISMA guidelines to locate peer-reviewed studies evaluating either the efficacy of omalizumab in the management of pediatric food allergies, or the effectiveness of exposure-based immunotherapies in allergy desensitization. A total of 20 studies were included after review. Inclusion/exclusion criteria included population, intervention, outcomes, and study types.
Results: The primary endpoint within this review is an evaluation of the various components of an immunological response, including desensitization, serum allergen-specific IgE and IgG4, and skin prick test. Results indicated that desensitization is generated with OIT and omalizumab treatment. No data compared the combination effect of both OIT and omalizumab treatment together. Multiple studies suggest that both OIT and omalizumab decrease IgE levels that are specific to the allergen.
Conclusion: Overall, this review indicated that omalizumab enhances the safety and effectiveness of OIT and may be an important adjunct therapy for pediatric food allergy. Additionally, there needs to be long-term studies that evaluate sustained tolerance and real-world implementation of the treatment modalities.
Disciplines
Chemicals and Drugs | Immune System Diseases | Medicine and Health Sciences
Efficacy of Omalizumab and Exposure Immunotherapy in Reducing Allergic Immunological Response
Background: Food allergy negatively impacts numerous children in the United States. Oral immunotherapy (OIT) and biologic therapy (omalizumab) are emerging promising strategies for desensitization. This literature review aims to compare the effectiveness of omalizumab and oral immunotherapy in pediatric populations.
Hypothesis: If the use of omalizumab therapy is used to treat children with food allergies compared to OIT, then there would be higher desensitization, lower post-treatment IgE levels, higher IgG4 levels, and decreased chance of a positive skin prick test.
Methods: PubMed, Embase, and The Lancet databases were searched using PRISMA guidelines to locate peer-reviewed studies evaluating either the efficacy of omalizumab in the management of pediatric food allergies, or the effectiveness of exposure-based immunotherapies in allergy desensitization. A total of 20 studies were included after review. Inclusion/exclusion criteria included population, intervention, outcomes, and study types.
Results: The primary endpoint within this review is an evaluation of the various components of an immunological response, including desensitization, serum allergen-specific IgE and IgG4, and skin prick test. Results indicated that desensitization is generated with OIT and omalizumab treatment. No data compared the combination effect of both OIT and omalizumab treatment together. Multiple studies suggest that both OIT and omalizumab decrease IgE levels that are specific to the allergen.
Conclusion: Overall, this review indicated that omalizumab enhances the safety and effectiveness of OIT and may be an important adjunct therapy for pediatric food allergy. Additionally, there needs to be long-term studies that evaluate sustained tolerance and real-world implementation of the treatment modalities.