First peanut allergy treatment licensed and available in England

A new drug for peanut allergy – the first of its kind – has been approved in England.

The drug has the potential to make a huge difference, and bring increased safety, to people and families living with a peanut allergy.

The new drug, called PALFORZIA, is taken orally, and will be available to up to 600 children aged four to 17 the first year and 2,000 the following year.

It has been developed by Aimmune Therapeutics UK Ltd, which specialises in the prevention, management, and treatment of food and metabolic-related diseases. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) approved the treatment following rigorous testing from PALISADE and ARTEMIS, and follow-on clinical studies by ARC004/PALISADE.

CEO of the Anaphylaxis Campaign, Simon Williams, says, “We know all too well that peanut allergy is extremely challenging and stressful for most children and teenagers with this condition. New treatment options are essential to mitigate the risk of potential severe allergic reactions due to accidental exposure.”

Dr Mich Erlewyn-Lajeunesse, a Consultant in Paediatric Allergy at Southampton Children’s Hospital, and study investigator for the PALISADE and ARTEMIS trials, says, “Results from the phase 3 clinical trials and additional studies demonstrate the potential of PALFORZIA to mitigate against severe allergic reactions in the event of accidental exposure to peanut protein. As the first peanut allergy treatment available to patients on NHS England, today’s announcement is a very important milestone in our journey to bringing PALFORZIA to as many eligible patients across England as possible.”