according to a press release from Kaléo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company.
“Anaphylactic reactions can be frightening and serious, and when experienced by the very young, some of whom can’t communicate about what’s happening, these episodes can be particularly alarming,” Vivian Hernandez-Trujillo, MD, a pediatric allergist and fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, said in a statement. “Now, caregivers can have the AUVI-Q 0.1 mg in hand to respond to an allergic emergency and safely administer epinephrine to infants and toddlers.”
The approval comes at a time when a higher percentage of children are being admitted to the hospital for food-related anaphylaxis: a 130% increase among children aged 0-4 years and a 196% increase in children aged 5-17 years.
The epinephrine autoinjector will be available for $0 out of pocket for commercially insured patients using the AUVI-Q AffordAbility Program and Direct Delivery Service starting May 1, 2018. More information concerning this EAI can be found here.