Study on Alpha-Gal Syndrome and Pork Challenges

This study is looking at how people with Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), a type of allergy, react to different kinds of pork. Researchers want to see if eating pork where the alpha-gal sugar has been removed (alpha-gal Knock Out or KO pork) causes fewer allergic reactions compared to regular pork (Wild Type or WT pork). You would eat both types of pork on separate days, with at least 8 days in between. The study is for people aged 12 to 50 who have symptoms of Alpha-Gal Syndrome. The main goal is to find out if KO pork is less likely to cause a positive allergic reaction than WT pork.

Study design
This is a randomized, double-blind study involving 160 participants. Each participant will try both types of pork, serving as their own comparison.
What's involved
You would participate in two oral food challenges, eating 150 grams of pork on each occasion. There will be at least an 8-day break between these challenges.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your reactions to the pork challenges will be measured at Visit 1 (within 2 months of screening) or Visit 2 (between 8 and 30 days of Visit 1).

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT07611435

Beginning to Assess an Appropriate CONtrol for Oral Food Challenges in Alpha-Gal Syndrome (CoFAR-13) - BeACON4AG

Not Yet Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 12–50InterventionalDiagnostic
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
~160 participants
Updated 2026-07-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:DBFC with 150g of Alpha-gal Knock Out (KO) porkDBFC with 150g of Wild Type (WT) pork

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 4 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Positive Double Blind Food Challenge (DBFC) result to 150 grams of either alpha-gal knockout (KO) pork or wild type (WT) pork.
Measured over At Visit 1 (within 2 months of screening) or Visit 2 (between 8 and 30 days of Visit 1)
Alpha-Gal Syndrome
Allergy
4 sites across 4 states
Arkansas1
North Carolina1
Tennessee1
Virginia1
  • Leonard Bacharier, M.D. · STUDY_CHAIR · Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonary Medicine
  • Rachel Robison, M.D. · STUDY_CHAIR · Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

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  • Positive Double Blind Food Challenge (DBFC) result to 150 grams of either alpha-gal knockout (KO) pork or wild type (WT) pork.At Visit 1 (within 2 months of screening) or Visit 2 (between 8 and 30 days of Visit 1)

    A positive challenge will be defined as experiencing symptoms grade 2 or higher on the Consortium for Food Allergy Research (CoFAR) Grading Scale for Systemic Allergic Reactions (scale range from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating a more severe reaction) within 6 hours of ingestion.