SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WSBT) — The FDA has approved the first nasal medication called “Neffy” to treat severe allergies.
This is a newer alternative to the well-known EpiPen.
Severe allergic reactions can be frightening, and for some people, the EpiPen needle can make things even worse. Luckily, there are now needle-free alternatives.
Allergic reactions are often caused by medicines, foods, or insect bites.
Epinephrine is often used to treat these reactions but until now it was only available by injection.
Nephi, an epinephrine nasal spray, offers a new emergency treatment option.
“That’s a big difference because nobody wants to get stuck with a needle. Nobody wants to get an injection, so often times treatment is delayed when it should have been an injection much sooner than a nasal spray. This is a very harmless treatment. It’s just as effective as an injection,” said Dr. Jim Harris, an allergist at South Bend Clinic.
Neffy is approved for adults and children weighing 66 pounds or more.
Like an EpiPen, one spray is given into one nostril, followed by a second dose if needed.
The manufacturer plans to seek FDA approval this fall for a lower dose of the drug for children weighing 33 to 66 pounds.
Neffy has several advantages over EpiPen: Neffy lasts up to 30 months versus 18 months for EpiPen, its smaller size makes it easier to carry around, and it’s overall safer.
According to Neffy’s developers, 3,500 caregivers are injured each year by accidentally injecting an EpiPen.
“They inject into the finger, they inject into the wrong place to cause this type of reaction, so mistakes are made and sometimes they lead to serious injury,” Dr. Harris said.
According to the FDA, the most common side effects of Nephi include throat irritation, nasal tingling, headache, nasal discomfort and nervousness. For people with private insurance, two Nephi devices cost less than $25 out of pocket, according to the pharmacist. For those without insurance, it would cost about $200 for two doses.
“I’m actually pretty excited,” said Jessica Holbert, a pharmacist at South Bend Clinic. “We haven’t seen any alternatives to epinephrine or EpiPens in a long time. Not only are EpiPens scary to use, they’re pretty expensive, so it’s nice to have another option on the market.”
Neffy is expected to hit the market eight weeks after FDA approval on Aug. 9.
