“Of note, however, 17% of subjects receiving Xolair had no significant change in the amount of peanut protein tolerated (could not tolerate 100 mg or more of peanut protein).”
In the trial, 68% of Xolair patients could eat the equivalent of 2.5 peanuts without a moderate or severe reaction, against 6% on placebo. Genentech gets a new market for a drug first approved in 2003 for asthma. Patients get repeated injections and must still avoid the food. It buys a margin for accidents, not a cure.