The nasal spray was approved in the US and has been recommended for approval by EU regulators. A nasal spray to treat life-threatening allergic reactions has been given the green light by US regulators. Anaphylaxis, a severe and potentially fatal allergic reaction, requires immediate treatment with epinephrine, which is traditionally administered with an injection such as EpiPen.
The newly approved product “neffy” offers a needle-free alternative by delivering epinephrine through a nasal spray. The spray is “the first epinephrine product for the treatment of anaphylaxis that is not administered by injection. Anaphylaxis is life-threatening and some people, particularly children, may delay or avoid treatment due to fear of injections,” Kelly Stone, an associate director of the division of pulmonology, allergy and critical care in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.
“The availability of epinephrine nasal spray may reduce barriers to rapid treatment of anaphylaxis. As a result, neffy provides an important treatment option and addresses an unmet need,” Stone added. The FDA says the spray is as effective at stopping dangerous reactions as the injections.
An allergic reaction occurs when a person's immune system overreacts to a substance. Common triggers of anaphylaxis include certain foods, medications, and insect stings. Symptoms can arise within minutes and may include hives, swelling, itching, v.
