Summary of New Developments in Allergy/Immunology from the 2025 ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, FL
The 2025 ACAAI Annual Scientific Meeting, held November 6-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, brought together allergists/immunologists, and researchers to showcase cutting-edge research, practical clinical takeaways, and emerging therapies. With over 100 abstracts published in the November supplement to the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, the event emphasized actionable insights for patient care in allergies, asthma, and immunologic disorders. Below is a concise summary of key new developments, drawn from plenary sessions, late-breaking abstracts, and presented studies.
1. Advances in Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management
Long-term Efficacy of Peanut Oral Immunotherapy (OIT): Phase 3 trial data on Palforzia® demonstrated sustained desensitization in children aged 4-17, with 67% achieving a 600 mg peanut protein dose after 1-3 years.
Viaskin Peanut Patch (VP250): The Viaskin Peanut Patch built peanut tolerance in over 70% of toddlers within three years.This non-invasive epicutaneous approach offers promise for early intervention.
Sublingual Epinephrine (Anaphylm™): Positive Phase 3 results for this oral film in treating anaphylaxis, with rapid absorption (Tmax ~12 minutes) and comparable efficacy to intramuscular epinephrine. If FDA-approved, it could transform rescue therapy accessibility. Anaphylm™ (epinephrine sublingual film) is not yet approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has accepted Aquestive Therapeutics' New Drug Application (NDA) and set a target action date of January 31, 2026, for a decision.
2. Therapeutics for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU)
Povorcitinib is an investigational, oral selective Janus kinase 1 (JAK1) inhibitor not yet approved by the FDA for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Povorcitinib 75 mg significantly reduced UAS7 scores in CSU patients compared to placebo, with rapid symptom relief by day 3.
3. Asthma and Respiratory Innovations
Severe Asthma Biologics Update: Plenary sessions highlighted tezepelumab's superiority in reducing exacerbations by 71% in oral corticosteroid-dependent patients. New biomarkers (e.g., periostin) were proposed for personalized selection - periostin levels, a marker of type 2 inflammation and tissue remodeling, are a relevant biomarker to monitor in these patients. Tezepelumab yielded the greatest reduction in exacerbations in patients with moderate‑to‑severe allergic asthma, whereas dupilumab yielded superior improvement in lung function.
Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP): A late-breaking research on dupilumab versus omalizumab showed 59% polyp reduction with dupilumab, emphasizing IL-4/13 blockade for refractory cases.
Military Deployment and Respiratory Risks: A cohort study linked deployment to a 2.5-fold increase in new-onset asthma and rhinitis, attributed to environmental exposures, urging enhanced screening protocols.
4. Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES)
Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES) in Pediatrics: Benralizumab induced sustained remission in 80% of steroid-refractory cases, with eGFR improvements, expanding anti-IL-5 use beyond asthma.
5. Emerging Technologies and Practice Tools
AI in Allergy Care: ModuleMD's platform, showcased in corporate forums, emphasized AI's role in precision medicine.
https://modulemd.com/allergy-immunology
Drug Allergy Evaluation: Practical plenary on delabeling penicillin allergies via direct oral challenge (without skin testing) achieved 95% success in low-risk patients, streamlining care.
Coding Updates: New ICD-10 codes for food allergies (e.g., Z91.010 for peanut allergy) were detailed to minimize denials, with tips for 2026 CPT revisions.
https://college.acaai.org/2026-code-updates/
Overall Impact and Future Directions
The meeting underscored a shift toward targeted biologics, oral/novel delivery systems, and AI-driven personalization. For full abstracts, visit annallergy.org. These developments signal a transformative era, potentially reducing the burden of allergic diseases affecting 100 million Americans.
https://www.annallergy.org/issue/S1081-1206(25)X0012-0
https://www.annallergy.org/issue/S1081-1206(25)X0013-2