I think DBVT has a potentially viable treatment option for peanut allergy (and quite possibly milk and egg with their platform). I had hoped DBVT would have a better overall response (higher percentage of responders) and higher dose of peanut protein tolerated, which AIMT appears to have accomplished in their trial. I worry, however, about the dropout rate in AIMT's trial due to GI side effects. Right now, AIMT may have the better clinical data/response, but it may not matter if half can't tolerate the drug.
DBVT reached statistical significance in their child cohort but failed to reach statistical significance with the older cohort (adolescent and/or adult, can't remember full details of the age breakdown off top of my head). I recall that if they tightened their definitions of responders they reached stat sig in that group. It's a mystery to me why the placebo group responded so well to increased peanut protein. Seems pretty fluky.
Besides the above issue, another potential snafu going forward for DBVT could be real-world compliance with a daily patch vs. a daily pill. Sure, trial compliance with the patch was great; but I wonder would it be in the real world, especially in toddlers whose parents may forget to put on the patch...or the kids try to remove them.
As an aside, I was surprised by the robust share price increase since DBVT's recent secondary offering in the US. Share price appreciated more than it did off of the trial data. Might have been the Baker Brother effect (they added to their position significantly), not sure, though.
Anyway, those are my late-night thoughts that I could type from my phone.
AI
