A New Drug Could Change Peanut Allergy Treatment for Good
Palforzia, a new drug for peanut allergies, may open the door to a new era of food allergy treatments
People with peanut allergies have reason to rejoice. Today, the FDA approved a first-of-its-kind drug for the treatment of peanut allergies. Experts say the drug’s approval could usher in a new era in allergy treatment — and not just for people who are allergic to peanuts.
The drug is called Palforzia. It’s an oral treatment composed of small, precisely measured and purified doses of peanut powder, which are intended to be mixed into food and eaten daily. The drug isn’t a cure, and it’s not intended to allow people with peanut allergies to eat peanuts at will. Instead, it’s designed to lower a person’s sensitivity to peanuts so that accidental exposures are not life-threatening.
“Peanut allergy affects approximately 1 million children in the U.S. and only 1 out of 5 of these children will outgrow their allergy. Because there is no cure, allergic individuals must strictly avoid exposure to prevent severe and potentially life-threatening reactions,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research said in a statement. “Even with strict avoidance, inadvertent exposures can and do occur. When used…
