There's a big change for people who once suffered from milk allergies, and it's all thanks to artificial intelligence.
A new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology finds children who once had severe allergies to cow's milk now consume dairy without restrictions.
"This groundbreaking study is a game changer for children suffering from milk allergies. It demonstrates that dairy allergies can achieve remission, enabling children who are anaphylactic today to eventually consume milk without restriction," Dr. Inderpal Randhawa, lead researcher and CEO of the Food Allergy Institute, said in a statement.
The study highlights the effectiveness of the Tolerance Induction Program in treating cow's milk anaphylaxis. The program, which has also shown effectiveness in treating peanut allergies, "revolutionizes the management of food allergies by providing long-term remission, allowing patients and families to live without the constant fear of allergic reactions," according to the study.
Under the program, patients build a tolerance to their allergens through the escalation of food proteins similar in structure to their allergens. This allows a patient to safely desensitize their immune system before they ever begin dosing their allergens.
In this first-of-its-kind study, 214 pediatric patients underwent the Tolerance Induction Program for milk anaphylaxis, guided by doctors using AI to create individual treatment plans. In this case, biosimilar proteins from other mammals -- goat milk, sheep milk, mare milk -- were consumed over many months, after which cow's milk was rapidly introduced through AI. Patients completed 56,443 food challenges, with only 6 (0.01%) incidents requiring epinephrine.
The results show 100% of the participants achieved milk allergy remission and have maintained a year without any incidents necessitating epinephrine, according to the Food Allergy Institute.
"All patients are now able to openly consume unlimited amounts of milk," the study noted.
Randhawa said the next big step is to take the treatment to the adult population and then continue to treat people at scale.
"As we continue to harness the power of AI in healthcare, this pioneering approach represents a significant leap forward in allergy treatment and personalized medicine, promising a future where milk allergies no longer hinder daily life," he said. "This milestone demonstrates the real-world success of AI in advancing medical treatment, providing hope and improved quality of life for millions of patients starting today."