The results of the late-stage trial, published in NNew England Journal of Medicineshow that the peanut patch was safe, with very little chance of a severe allergic reaction, according to daily science. Allergic reactions to peanuts can be a matter of life and death for young children. The usual approach to managing a peanut allergy is to try to avoid peanut-based products. However, accidental exposures, such as at schools or using shared cutlery, are often unavoidable and pose a serious risk to children.

The researchers said the new findings are excellent news for families of children with peanut allergies. “Children who originally reacted to a small fraction of peanuts were able to tolerate the equivalent of one to four peanuts after completing the treatment course. This means that these children will be well protected from accidental exposure to peanuts,” said co-author Melanie Makhija, according to daily science.

The trial included 362 young children from eight countries, with 244 randomized to wear the Viaskin patch. About 67% of children ages 1 to 3 who used the patch, called Viaskin, were able to safely tolerate more peanut protein for a year than when the trial began, according to findings from drugmaker DBV Technologies SA, according to what was reported by access point. Additionally, anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction that often includes difficulty breathing, occurred in approximately 7.8% of patients using patches; four of them were considered treatment-related.

In a news release, Alkis Togias, chief of the Allergy, Asthma, and Airway Biology Branch at the US National Institutes of Health, said the results are “extremely good news for young children and their families as the next step toward a future with more treatment for food allergies.”

The new study could relieve a lot of stress for parents and also spark additional new research in the area.