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US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

reuters.com

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Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#61

Post by LUmBULtERA »

modeless wrote: post #13

I don't care about the needleless part. The autoinjectors are easy to use and you never see the needle. This is the real win: > The shelf life of neffy is 30 months and allows for temperature exposure up to 122°F (50°C), making it a potentially effective treatment if left in a car or outside for a length of time. If accidentally frozen, neffy can be thawed and administered. [1] The need to keep Epi-Pens below 77 degr…

I wasn't aware of the relatively low max temp spec of the epipens. Yikes, a big thank you for pointing that out.

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#62

Post by FredFS456 »

sweca wrote: post #7
jawns wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is HUGE for kids. Nasal spray as a delivery method is a big step up from needles, the shelf life is much longer, it's less susceptible to high/low temperatures, and if the promotional pricing is accurate, it's cheaper than EpiPens and Auvi-Q (which talks you through the injection procedure). I wouldn't be surprised, though, if insurers continue to push generic epinephine injectors ($15-$30) merely from a cost pe…

Hmm... Canada had something like Auvi-Q called Allerject but it was recalled due to mechanical malfunctions. https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/epipen-shortage-canada-1.3296...

It's available again, I have two that I bought this year.

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#63

Post by viraptor »

ezoe wrote: post #54
modeless wrote: post #13

I don't care about the needleless part. The autoinjectors are easy to use and you never see the needle. This is the real win: > The shelf life of neffy is 30 months and allows for temperature exposure up to 122°F (50°C), making it a potentially effective treatment if left in a car or outside for a length of time. If accidentally frozen, neffy can be thawed and administered. [1] The need to keep Epi-Pens below 77 degr…

The needle-less part is important. In my country, injecting a drug via needle is a medical activity only the patient himself, doctor and the nurse instructed by doctor can perform by law. For EpiPen, the regulation is slightly relaxed so the paramedics, parents/childcare workers/school teachers responsible for the child patient can also use it. But when the EpiPen is needed, the patients often can't administer himsel…

Which country is that?

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#64

Post by viraptor »

floam wrote: post #20
jasinjames wrote: post #2

> ARS Pharma will offer neffy at a price of $199 for two doses via digital pharmacy sites like BlinkRx and GoodRx for eligible patients whose insurance plans do not cover neffy. Some commercially insured patients can access the treatment at $25 for each filled prescription of two single-use neffy devices through a co-pay savings program. This is considerably lower than the non-insured cost of an Epi-Pen or generic eq…

I knew someone that was… violently, ridiculously afraid of needles and to have them describe the time they had to stab a roommate with an Epi-Pen — after running outside and failing to find a Good Samaritan to do it — it was like hearing someone describe finding the courage to take a life or something, some kind of war story. He did finally do it, though. He also puked on the person. The guy had some kind of natural…

Agree. I didn't even think about it before in that context, but I also have some childhood trauma from too many blood tests. I can pass out after having blood drawn now and don't know if I'd be able to inject someone. Hopefully yes...

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#65

Post by viraptor »

makeitdouble wrote: post #56
amluto wrote: post #9

I would love to see the way that ownership of these devices is managed. I find it rather obnoxious that every child who may need epinephrine is supposed to keep their own device at school — this means that each student needs an extra device, and most of them just sit around until expiration. If the school could buy and store a reasonable number (funded, on a fractional basis, by the insurers of the students who need…

I see the cost part, but on managing the devices it would either require: - centralising all the devices in one point and have one or two trained professionals do the injections, which means a significant delay in case of emergency - or training every professor to do injections, which isn't hard in theory, but time and cost consuming, puts more burden and restrictions on the staff (how do you deal with a 60yo math te…

> how do you deal with a 60yo math teacher who just wants to teach and not manage health emergencies

Is that an option? If you're an adult supervising kids over long enough time you will have an emergency. I remember at least 3 decent ones from primary school.

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#66

Post by retSava »

modeless wrote: post #13

I don't care about the needleless part. The autoinjectors are easy to use and you never see the needle. This is the real win: > The shelf life of neffy is 30 months and allows for temperature exposure up to 122°F (50°C), making it a potentially effective treatment if left in a car or outside for a length of time. If accidentally frozen, neffy can be thawed and administered. [1] The need to keep Epi-Pens below 77 degr…

The needless part is the one I think of first. Our daughter is 10, and as soon as we bring up "here's an injector" to school personnel or friends parents when she's staying over, there's a frightened look in their eyes.

This will allow us to be much more relaxed, since the risk of anyone panicking when administering is lower, the risk of doing it wrong is significantly lower, and the stigmata is also lower compared to a needle.

I've been eagerly awaiting this.

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#67

Post by mrbombastic »

retSava wrote: post #66
modeless wrote: post #13

I don't care about the needleless part. The autoinjectors are easy to use and you never see the needle. This is the real win: > The shelf life of neffy is 30 months and allows for temperature exposure up to 122°F (50°C), making it a potentially effective treatment if left in a car or outside for a length of time. If accidentally frozen, neffy can be thawed and administered. [1] The need to keep Epi-Pens below 77 degr…

The needless part is the one I think of first. Our daughter is 10, and as soon as we bring up "here's an injector" to school personnel or friends parents when she's staying over, there's a frightened look in their eyes. This will allow us to be much more relaxed, since the risk of anyone panicking when administering is lower, the risk of doing it wrong is significantly lower, and the stigmata is also lower compared t…

nit: stigmata -> stigma.

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#68

Post by amluto »

makeitdouble wrote: post #56
amluto wrote: post #9

I would love to see the way that ownership of these devices is managed. I find it rather obnoxious that every child who may need epinephrine is supposed to keep their own device at school — this means that each student needs an extra device, and most of them just sit around until expiration. If the school could buy and store a reasonable number (funded, on a fractional basis, by the insurers of the students who need…

I see the cost part, but on managing the devices it would either require: - centralising all the devices in one point and have one or two trained professionals do the injections, which means a significant delay in case of emergency - or training every professor to do injections, which isn't hard in theory, but time and cost consuming, puts more burden and restrictions on the staff (how do you deal with a 60yo math te…

Schools already have to solve exactly these problems. Kids with known anaphylactic reactions have an epinephrine autoinjector and possibly a little pack of antihistamines in a baggie, with the kid’s name on it, in the school nurse’s office. And there’s a piece of paper (generally a standard-ish form that may or may not be comprehensible) with specific instructions for that kid. This being America, the kid’s doctor absolutely does not take the time to write clear instructions for that kid.

The only thing that I’m suggesting should change is to have a pile of epinephrine auto injectors (or nose sprays) supplied by the school, so the parents would instead just supply the instructions.

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#69

Post by makeitdouble »

viraptor wrote: post #65
makeitdouble wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I see the cost part, but on managing the devices it would either require: - centralising all the devices in one point and have one or two trained professionals do the injections, which means a significant delay in case of emergency - or training every professor to do injections, which isn't hard in theory, but time and cost consuming, puts more burden and restrictions on the staff (how do you deal with a 60yo math te…

> how do you deal with a 60yo math teacher who just wants to teach and not manage health emergencies Is that an option? If you're an adult supervising kids over long enough time you will have an emergency. I remember at least 3 decent ones from primary school.

Isn't there a limitation on what teacher are allowed to do in most countries ?

I'd assume a teacher usually doesn't have the right to give medication to a kid, at least that's the rule we had when discussion with the school.

Re: US FDA approves nasal spray alternative to EpiPen for allergic reactions

#70

Post by maxerickson »

jessriedel wrote: post #12
ryan-duve wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, but in addition to the one at home we also have to buy a separate one to sit in the nurse's office all year. Also, if the before/after school program doesn't have access to the nurse's office, we have yet another one that sits in their cabinet, too. They all come home at the end of the year, expire, repeat.

I don’t understand what the plausible alternative policy is. Each kid needs a personal one for when they are at home. They presumably should bring it with them to school for quick action and also for if they have an episode while commuting. The school could decline to carry them to save a bit of money each year, but it seems unwise to rely on (1) kids never forgetting their medication and (2) an adult always knowing…

Their complaint isn't that the school is stocking them. Their complaint is that each child that needs one available is required to provide a personal one to the school to store for use in case they have an emergency.

So instead of the school managing and restocking a reasonable number, the parents restock one each year.

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