The present invention relates to oral immunotherapy for the desensitization of patients who are hypersensitive to peanut allergen. The immunotherapy comprises increasing the oral dose daily dose of peanut protein administered to the patient at intervals of at least 2 weeks in a series of increments from an initial dose to a maximum dose, the series of dose increments including 2 mg, 5 mg, 12.5 mg, 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg, 200 mg, 400 mg and 800 mg; administering a daily oral dose of the maximum dose of peanut protein for at least 2 years and then administering a weekly oral dose of the maximum dose of peanut protein for at least 2 years.