Allergy and immunology specialists have a packed month to catch up on, from late-breaking hereditary angioedema (HAE) data to a first-in-class peanut allergy trial in infants. This roundup covers the latest phase 2 and phase 3 developments, key clinical pearls from the 2026 Eastern Allergy Conference (EAC) in Palm Beach, and a closer look at the everyday realities of living with food allergy.
Below, find summaries on lonvoguran ziclumeran's phase 3 HAELO trial results, DBV Technologies' THRIVE study, early allergen introduction guidance, chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) treatment sequencing, and a new resource bridging clinical care and patient experience.
Allergy Headlines You Missed in June 2026
- HAELO Phase 3 Secondary Data: Lonvo-z cut moderate/severe HAE attacks by 91% with zero non-responders, per EAACI 2026 data.
- THRIVE Trial Launches: DBV Technologies screens first infant for Viaskin Peanut patch study in 6- to 12-month-olds.
- Early Allergen Introduction: Routine pre-introduction testing isn't recommended for most infants, says Dartmouth's Marcus Shaker, MD.
- CSU Treatment Sequencing: Jonathan Bernstein, MD, outlines when to move beyond omalizumab to dupilumab or remibrutinib.
- A Patient's-Eye View: FAACT's "Food Allergies in the City" microdrama spotlights the social realities of food allergy management.
Phase 2 & 3 Clinical Trial Updates
New secondary endpoint data from the phase 3 HAELO trial, presented at EAACI 2026 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed lonvoguran ziclumeran (lonvo-z, Intellia Therapeutics) reduced moderate/severe HAE attacks by 91% and on-demand treatment use by 89% versus placebo, with no non-responders across the treatment arm. Patients also reported a 17.04-point improvement in Angioedema Quality of Life (AE-QoL) scores, exceeding the 6-point threshold for clinical meaningfulness.
All treatment-emergent adverse events were mild to moderate, with no liver function abnormalities observed. A rolling BLA submission is underway, with US approval anticipated in the first half of 2027.
DBV Technologies screened the first infant in THRIVE, a phase 2 trial assessing the Viaskin Peanut patch in infants aged 6 through 12 months with peanut allergies, led by investigator Douglas Mack, MD (McMaster University). The single-arm, open-label study targets ad libitum peanut consumption as its primary endpoint, requiring daily epicutaneous immunotherapy for 36 months before a peanut food challenge. THRIVE builds on desensitization data from DBV's EPITOPE and VITESSE trials in older cohorts, representing the youngest population studied with this scale of peanut allergy trial; safety monitoring will focus on local site reactions.
EAC 2026 Clinical Pearls
Marcus Shaker, MD (Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine), discussed early allergenic food introduction as a key food allergy prevention strategy. Shaker emphasized that routine allergy testing before introducing foods like peanuts is not recommended for most infants, since positive results do not reliably predict clinical allergy and may lead to unnecessary dietary restrictions. He advocated for individualized, shared decision-making that weighs family history, risk factors, and parental concerns, noting current practice parameters support a conditional recommendation for early introduction based on the strength of existing evidence.
Jonathan Bernstein, MD (University of Cincinnati, Bernstein Allergy Group), outlined CSU treatment sequencing, recommending high-dose antihistamines up to 4 times the standard dose before confirming treatment failure. Updated guidelines are expected to continue favoring omalizumab as preferred next-line therapy, though patients with low IgE levels and autoimmune features may warrant alternatives like dupilumab or remibrutinib.
Bernstein noted biomarkers such as total IgE, thyroid peroxidase antibodies, and the CU Index are not yet guideline-incorporated but should be obtained before omalizumab initiation. Meanwhile, cyclosporine remains reserved for difficult-to-treat, later-line cases.
Allergy Care Beyond the Exam Room
FAACT released Food Allergies in the City, a 4-episode microdrama produced with Genentech and Novartis, featuring 5 real young adults aged 18 to 23 years with food allergies navigating dating, dining out, and social situations in New York City. Lisa Horne, FAACT director of marketing, said the series surfaces topics rarely discussed in clinical visits, including kissing and social embarrassment, despite their relevance to anaphylaxis risk. Horne suggested clinicians use the series as a waiting room or patient portal resource and recommended open-ended questions, such as asking how food allergies affect daily life, to prompt deeper conversations.
