A drug that could resist the effects of peanut allergies will be reportedly available in the market in the upcoming months. The Allergenic Products Advisory Committee(APAC) convened by the FDA -in conjunction with additional safeguards, are adequate to support the use of PALFORZIA
The decision is followed immediately after the agency’s Allergenic Products Advisory Committee meeting on Friday. FDA officials decided in favor of approving the peanut allergy drug, which will be named as ‘PALFORZIA’
They also decided there will be an effective safety plan. This makes it possible to use the drug in the treatment of children and teenagers.
FDA does not have an obligation to follow its advisory committees’ suggestions but mostly goes on that path. It will now decide whether or not to fully approve the treatment. The product will be marketed by the company Aimmune Therapeutics which has its headquarters in Brisbane, California.
It is actually a turning point for the food allergy field. The treatment involves gradually ingesting peanut protein in an ascending dose. This news has captured the attention of many people as they remain hopeful of getting rid of the allergy.
In fact, over 150 allergists in the United States already give their patients calculated doses of peanut products in the doctor’s office and at home in what is termed as ‘oral immunotherapy’.
But hundreds of more doctors have waited for long for the FDA’s approval of Aimmune’s version, an officially designed capsule that has powder derived from peanut flour and holds peanut proteins at consistent levels.
Aimmune created in 2011; it got $3.5 million in early funding support from Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), an advocacy group headquartered in McLean, Virginia, whose members were desperate to get something more than what physicians had to offer at the time.
The official press release can be expected within early October.
