E-Greetings from the Allergy Advocacy Association

Greetings! Ready or not, here comes the holiday season!

November 2022

Each year during October and November, medical conferences occur all across America, particularly pertaining to life-threatening allergies. In this month’s newsletter you can read about new medical research and important information about food allergies and medications, including promising therapies that could prove helpful to individuals and families at risk for dangerous anaphylaxis emergencies.

Late October is also the time for the Action Awards Celebration. This annual virtual Halloween event was well attended again this year. Sandy Glantz, Thomas Silvera and Ondina Hawthorne, the winners of the John J. Condemi Award and the Ruthie T. Cornell Award, appeared in tribute videos and were on hand to enjoy the festivities. The amazing magician and mentalist Gary Ferrar kept entertained all with tricks and slights of hand. Many thanks again to our donors for their generous financial contributions!

What is anaphylaxis? How would you recognize an anaphylaxis emergency? And would you know what are the right things to do? For many people, even those that have a life-threatening allergy, the answer is no.

The Allergy Advocacy Association has a solution: Epi Near You New York anaphylaxis emergency training program. This life saving program can be delivered via webinar or face-to-face.

Upon completion of the training session you receive:

New York State recognized certification to stock and administer epinephrine, and
Assistance for public entities to obtain a non-patient specific prescription for emergency epinephrine

Find more information about the Epi Near You New York training program here.
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Best holiday wishes to one and all!

Immunotherapy Skin Patch Shows Efficacy for Toddlers with Peanut Allergy

While we wait for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a skin patch immunotherapy for toddlers with peanut allergies, allergists and scientists have important new research showing how this patch could be used by individuals at risk for peanut allergy. In conversation with Helio, Dr. Matthew Greenhawt reports on "the incredible potential of epicutaneous therapy" for infants and young children. Broad based distribution of the patch is still several years away. In the meantime, read more about this research and the very promising possibilities.

Immunotherapy Skin Patch Shows Efficacy for Toddlers with Peanut Allergy

November 13, 2022

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Epicutaneous immunotherapy conferred a significant response after 12 months among children aged 1 to 3 years with peanut allergy, according to results of the phase 3 randomized, double-blind EPITOPE study. These results were presented at the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Scientific Meeting.

“There are very little published data regarding immunotherapy in infants and toddlers,” Matthew Greenhawt, MD, MBA, MSc, director of the food challenge and research unit at Children’s Hospital Colorado, told Healio. “Recently, the IMPACT study (sponsored by the Immune Tolerance Network) showed that peanut oral immunotherapy, using a 12% light-roast peanut flour, was effective in desensitizing this population.”

Even in States with Strong Stock Albuterol Laws, School Administrators Fear Liability

Albuterol and epinephrine are both vital medications for the immediate treatment of life-threatening attacks of asthma and anaphylaxis. While many states permit central school systems to stock non-patient specific doses in case of emergencies, the schools and other entities have an unwarranted fear of liability. Read this article to better understand those fears and consider how the community can encourage entities to stock both of these medications.

Even in States with Strong Stock Albuterol Laws, School Administrators Fear Liability

November 10, 2022

Study shows liability concerns are unwarranted

November 10, 2022
Louisville, KY

Although asthma is one of the most common respiratory conditions for children, kids don’t always carry their inhalers, or may not even know they have asthma. State legislatures have implemented stock inhaler programs to ensure that schools have an asthma reliever, such as albuterol, which can be used by any child experiencing respiratory distress in the school setting. A new study being presented at this year’s American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Louisville, KY, shows that even in states with strong stock inhaler/albuterol laws, school administrators and prescribing clinicians fear liability in prescribing and administering the stock inhalers.

Epinephrine Autoinjectors Not Prescribed to Half of Adults With Severe Food Allergy

In an anaphylaxis emergency, epinephrine is THE physician recommended first line medication! No other treatment counteracts all the dangerous symptoms of anaphylaxis as quickly and effectively as epinephrine. But because epinephrine is administered with an auto injector (EAI) device which has a needle and requires an intermuscular injection, some doctors are reluctant to prescribe the device. Patients are also needlessly afraid to use one. Schools and other entities who are permitted to stock epinephrine are afraid to do so. It's a paradox that could cost someone's life. Our Epi Near You New York program addresses the issue of fear of epinephrine. Read more about how we can educate doctors to prescribe epinephrine sooner in the diagnostic process.

Epinephrine Autoinjectors Not Prescribed to Half of Adults With Severe Food Allergy

By Brandon May
November 11, 2022

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky — Nearly half of adults with food allergies have not been prescribed an epinephrine autoinjector (EAI) by their physician, according to survey results presented here at the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) 2022 Annual Meeting.

Only 1 in 4 adults with food allergies say they have access to an EAI. Epinephrine is the only treatment that can halt anaphylaxis and reduce the risk of negative effects associated with food allergies.

The use of EAIs is therefore critical for people with severe food allergies. However, the new research suggests that many adults with these allergies have problems accessing or using this potentially lifesaving treatment.

FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Nasal Epinephrine Spray Treatment for Anaphylaxis

Research into ways to administer epinephrine without a needle has been under way for years. While the wait continues, it is exciting that neffy® the intranasal emergency epinephrine device being developed by ARS Pharmaceuticals has made it to the US FDA for review. Find the details about timing here.

FDA Accepts New Drug Application for Nasal Epinephrine Spray Treatment for Anaphylaxis

By Dave Bloom
2022/10/21

ARS Pharmaceuticals announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted a New Drug Application (NDA) for their neffy® nasal epinephrine device for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in adults and children weighing 66 lbs and more.

Clinical trials confirmed a 2mg dose of epinephrine administered intranasally provided comparable pharmacokinetics as an administration from a traditional auto-injector.