Possible Celiac Disease Drug Treatment ALV003 Fast Tracked by FDA

I won't be a lab rat for this fast tracked drug. I will stay on my gluten free diet without taking it. Obviously, people who do take the drug will still have to eat gluten free, so why take a risk on having adverse reactions to it. Recombinent sounds like it might be genetically engineered, too. I really do hope the new drug is safe and effective. I will wait a few years, and see how other people who take the drug fare with it. Then decide if I want to try it myself.

Sounds like it may help at least with those of us who are highly sensitive, and react to slight cross-contamination. It's almost impossible to eliminate gluten completely, even by eating only foods labelled gluten-free.

Totally agree!

Very interesting that this drug is on the fast track. I feel as though people will be under the impression that they'll be able to eat gluten while taking it, but, what does the drug do for the long term effects of celiac disease? Does it work on all forms of gluten intolerance? If not, the testing, screening, and diagnosing of different forms of gluten intolerance must be refined. I have been on a 100% gluten-free diet for 4 years now and I am in the best health that I have ever been in. After much research and reading I have come to my own opinions about gluten and feel as though my body was not designed to ingest it. That said, if a drug ever did exist that would allow me to eat gluten with no consequences whatever, I would probably not take it. I think the FDA is ahead of themselves: there are other aspects of gluten intolerance that must be refined before we start to manufacture drugs.

I too question taking medication when staying on a gluten-free diet. The recalls of medications after the damage is done happens too many times for me to risk my health on a basically unproven medication. The gluten-free diet is a healthy one and medication free.

As a Coeliac, I can say from the look of the comments already posted - you all seem quite smug that you manage to stay on 100% gluten-free diets at all times. I strive to stay 100% gluten-free as well - but do sometimes have to eat outside the safety of my own house and surrender food preparation to others that don't take gluten-free as seriously or just plain don't understand.

If someone can produce a drug that can help with an accidental contamination, especially when away from my 'safe place', then I for one will gladly take it.

As a Coeliac, I can say from the look of the comments already posted - you all seem quite smug that you manage to stay on 100% gluten-free diets at all times. I strive to stay 100% gluten-free as well - but do sometimes have to eat outside the safety of my own house and surrender food preparation to others that don't take gluten-free as seriously or just plain don't understand.

 

If someone can produce a drug that can help with an accidental contamination, especially when away from my 'safe place', then I for one will gladly take it.

I would love to have something to help me when I am out and away from home. Yes, I totally agree.

Very interesting that this drug is on the fast track. I feel as though people will be under the impression that they'll be able to eat gluten while taking it, but, what does the drug do for the long term effects of celiac disease? Does it work on all forms of gluten intolerance? If not, the testing, screening, and diagnosing of different forms of gluten intolerance must be refined. I have been on a 100% gluten-free diet for 4 years now and I am in the best health that I have ever been in. After much research and reading I have come to my own opinions about gluten and feel as though my body was not designed to ingest it. That said, if a drug ever did exist that would allow me to eat gluten with no consequences whatever, I would probably not take it. I think the FDA is ahead of themselves: there are other aspects of gluten intolerance that must be refined before we start to manufacture drugs.

Why must we refine other aspects of gluten intolerance? This is a potential treatment for celiac disease. The article plainly says "in conjunction with a gluten-free diet". Seeing as you wouldn't utilize a medication that would enable you to live a normal life even if there were no consequences whatsoever, why discourage others who want to?

I was recently diagnosed with celiac disease. I am having a hard time trying to figure out what to eat. I ate at a lot of restaurants and now have trouble picking the right ones that are actually 100% gluten-free. So yes, I will take this pill only when I eat outside to protect myself and not on a daily basis.

As a Coeliac, I can say from the look of the comments already posted - you all seem quite smug that you manage to stay on 100% gluten-free diets at all times. I strive to stay 100% gluten-free as well - but do sometimes have to eat outside the safety of my own house and surrender food preparation to others that don't take gluten-free as seriously or just plain don't understand.

 

If someone can produce a drug that can help with an accidental contamination, especially when away from my 'safe place', then I for one will gladly take it.

I agree with you. No need for people to act condescending about their choice. My son has celiac disease and myasthenia Ggravis. It's important for us to keep him 100% gluten-free but it is also just as important to let him be a kid! We have well meaning friends that make accommodations for him and at birthday parties, etc. they make gluten-free cupcakes, cookies, etc. just for him. I love it! However, I'm worried about cross contamination from utensils, non certified foods, etc. I have even seen my mother in law excitedly preparing my son some gluten-free garlic bread but I had to explain that we would have to redo it with a clean pan and spatula because she had used them right before for regular bread. In cases like this, when we can't be 100% positive that our food is gluten-free then it would be a godsend to have a medication as back up!

I won't be a lab rat for this fast tracked drug. I will stay on my gluten free diet without taking it. Obviously, people who do take the drug will still have to eat gluten free, so why take a risk on having adverse reactions to it. Recombinent sounds like it might be genetically engineered, too. I really do hope the new drug is safe and effective. I will wait a few years, and see how other people who take the drug fare with it. Then decide if I want to try it myself.

Same approach I've chosen to take with the gluten-free oats. I would still prefer to maintain a gluten-free diet, than contend with 'side effects' of a drug. That's the elegance of treating a disease by removing something, rather than adding complications by taking drugs.

As a Coeliac, I can say from the look of the comments already posted - you all seem quite smug that you manage to stay on 100% gluten-free diets at all times. I strive to stay 100% gluten-free as well - but do sometimes have to eat outside the safety of my own house and surrender food preparation to others that don't take gluten-free as seriously or just plain don't understand.

 

If someone can produce a drug that can help with an accidental contamination, especially when away from my 'safe place', then I for one will gladly take it.

There are some over the counter enzymes you can take that target the gluten. You might want to look into taking those when you eat out. That's what we do, and we are all highly sensitive (3 of us).