cow's milk allergen

Cow's milk allergen, administered in the form of skimmed milk powder, is a biologic agent used in allergen immunotherapy (AIT) for the treatment of cow's milk allergy. The therapy involves the gradual administration of increasing doses of milk proteins—primarily caseins and whey proteins such as alpha-lactalbumin and beta-lactoglobulin—to induce immunological desensitization and clinical tolerance. The mechanism of action is characterized by a shift in the immune response from an IgE-mediated Th2 allergic profile toward a regulatory T-cell (Treg) and Th1-mediated response. This modulation leads to the production of allergen-specific IgG4 antibodies and a reduction in mast cell and basophil reactivity upon allergen exposure. In clinical research, such as the jRCT1031240155 trial in Japan, skimmed milk powder is being evaluated in combined oral immunotherapy (OIT) and sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) protocols to improve safety and efficacy outcomes in allergic patients.

Other names

skimmed milk powdercow's milk proteinmilk allergen extract