The Food Allergy Fund (FAF) held a forum in Washington, D.C., on November 16, featuring key figures such as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., FDA Chief Martin Makary, and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya.
Makary explained that the gut hosts over a billion types of bacteria that normally live in balance, contributing to overall health. Disruptions caused by modern diets, antibiotics, and environmental changes can cause inflammation and potentially lead to food allergies.
Siolta Therapeutics is advancing this research with STMC-103H, an oral microbiome therapy tested in a Phase 2 trial involving 238 newborns at risk due to family history.
Early results show a 77% reduction in the risk of developing food allergies among treated infants. Final outcomes are expected in early 2026. This suggests that improving gut bacteria early in life could be a preventative strategy against allergies.
Ilana Golant, FAF founder and CEO, described food allergies as an early warning sign for a larger microbiome-related health crisis. The FAF’s Microbiome Collective aims to explore how gut bacteria might prevent or treat not only food allergies but also autoimmune and neurodegenerative diseases.
Food allergies affect about 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children in the U.S., with peanut allergies being among the most common. Early introduction of peanuts has been shown to reduce childhood allergy risk.
Secretary Kennedy, who has multiple children with severe allergies, noted that food allergies are far more prevalent now than during his childhood. He emphasized the urgent need for research to uncover the causes behind this epidemic.
Overall, the growing consensus is that gut health and microbial balance are central to preventing and managing food allergies and related immune conditions, marking a potentially transformative approach in public health.
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