New Drug Available in the Treatment of Peanut Allergies
PALFORZIA, an FDA approved drug used in the treatment of peanut allergy, is now available for oral immunotherapy (OIT) treatment at Cincinnati Children’s. According to Amal H. Assa’ad, MD, director of the Food Allergy Program, it is not a cure but can save lives.
o Palforzia may ease the severe and sometimes deadly reactions from eating or even being near peanuts.
o Dr.Assa'ad had been testing Palforzia with pediatric patients at Cincinnati Children's since 2014. Children with peanut allergies received extremely small amounts of peanut protein, and then doctors increased the dosage over time. By 12 visits, patients reached a dosage amount that they could maintain, about a peanut to a peanut in a half. Once reached, daily maintenance of that dose must occur for the rest of their lives.
o The therapy is currently limited to peanut allergies and only intended for children ages 4-17 years of age.
o Exclusion criteria is, but not limited to:
· Uncontrolled asthma
· History of eosinophilic esophagitis or eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease
· Do not initiate PALFORZIA in a patient who has had severe or life-threatening anaphylaxis within previous 60 days.
If you think your patient is a candidate for OIT, please refer for an allergy visit. At this visit, if appropriate, the allergy provider can order the OIT referral.