Food Allergy Biotech: What Recent Moves Signal for Patients and the Field

By Ilana Golant, Food Allergy Fund Founder and CEO

January 21, 2026 - This week, GSK announced its acquisition of RAPT Therapeutics—a move that has prompted renewed conversation about whether food allergy and anaphylaxis prevention are finally gaining sustained traction in pharma.

On one hand, the acquisition sends an important signal: large pharma is paying attention to innovation aimed at preventing anaphylaxis—not just managing reactions. RAPT’s innovative work, led by a strong team including Dr. Brian Wong, who has shared his perspective with the FAF community through our CEO network, reflects the kind of translational science the field needs more of.

At the same time, news of the upcoming discontinuation of Palforzia, the first FDA-approved oral immunotherapy (OIT) for peanut allergy, served as a sobering reminder to the patient community that regulatory approval alone doesn’t guarantee long-term commitment. Even first-in-class therapies can falter when commercial strategy, patient experience, and real-world outcomes aren’t fully aligned.

For investors and innovators, the opportunity in food allergy is real, but lasting impact will require strong science, patient-informed development, and capital committed to long-term outcomes across development, access, and adoption, not short-term wins. That alignment is what ultimately determines whether breakthroughs truly reach patients.

For those interested in the science behind this work, Dr. Brian Wong shared a thoughtful perspective at the 2025 FAF Summit and how his own allergic reaction inspired his work.