Considered one of the largest global conferences for allergy, asthma, and immunology, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) and the World Allergy Organization (WAO) hosted the 2025 AAAAI/WAO Joint Congress in San Diego from Feb. 28 to March 3, 2025.
The conference brought together more than 5,500 researchers, allergy industry partners, clinicians, and advocacy groups from around the world to participate in expert-led educational sessions, research poster presentations, an expo, and networking opportunities. The theme of this year’s 2024 AAAAI/WAO Joint Congress was “Climate Change and Allergic Diseases: Global Impact on Health.”
National Peanut Board (NPB) Marketing and Communications Manager Markita Lewis, M.S., R.D., attended the conference. Each year, the event provides NPB an opportunity to stay informed on cutting-edge research, clinical practices, and advocacy efforts to help achieve its goal of eradicating peanut allergies.
While a cure for food allergies is not a current reality, some major highlights of the conference included:
• The FDA extending approval of the peanut allergy treatment Palforzia to toddlers ages 1 to 3.
Previously, Palforzia, the first FDA-approved oral immunotherapy for peanut allergies, was approved only for children ages 4 to 17. The extended approval, announced in early 2025, allows younger children to benefit from the treatment, which helps desensitize the immune system to peanuts over time. This expansion is a significant step in offering peanut allergy sufferers and their families a potential pathway to manage the condition, especially as early intervention may improve long-term outcomes in preventing severe allergic reactions.
• Updates on the OUtMATCH study and Xolair’s effectiveness as a multi-food allergy treatment.
The OUtMATCH (Oral Immunotherapy and Xolair Treatment) study has provided new insights into the effectiveness of Xolair, a biologic drug, in treating food allergies. Approved by the FDA in 2024 for peanut allergies, Xolair is now being investigated for its ability to treat a range of food allergies, including peanuts, eggs, and tree nuts. The new data supports Xolair’s potential to reduce allergic reactions in patients by targeting the IgE antibodies that trigger allergic responses. Researchers are optimistic that Xolair may offer an additional treatment option for patients with multiple food allergies, providing broader relief for those suffering from complex allergy profiles.
• New data on the Viaskin Peanut Patch’s effectiveness.
In a March 25th update, DBV Technologies, the company behind the Viaskin Peanut Patch, announced promising new data showing the patch’s ability to gradually desensitize peanut-allergic patients by delivering small, controlled doses of peanut protein through the skin. The company also revealed plans to apply for FDA approval for the patch by 2026. This would mark a major milestone for Viaskin, which could potentially offer a less invasive, at-home treatment option for peanut allergy sufferers, providing an alternative to oral immunotherapy and offering more precise dosing and monitoring. The patch is seen as a promising tool for individuals looking for safer and more convenient management of their peanut allergies.
Lewis met with several 2024 award recipients of NPB’s Food Allergy Grant Program, including researchers from the University of Chicago, which received the Dee Dee Darden Award for its proposal. Their passion for peanut allergy research and advocacy was evident in these meetings, and NPB plans to maintain a strong relationship with these researchers moving forward.
The AAAAI/WAO Joint Congress also provided an opportunity to promote this year’s request for proposals for peanut allergy research funding. While attending daily poster presentation sessions, Lewis spoke with researchers studying peanut allergies about funding opportunities available through NPB’s grant program.
NPB remains committed to investing in peanut allergy research and growing the network of experts needed to one day make peanut allergies a thing of the past.