The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing a new drug aimed at treating peanut allergies in children.
As many as one in 50 children are allergic to peanuts. The drug called palforzia works by exposing kids to pharmaceutical-grade peanut protein.
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The first-of-its-kind drug could pave the way for a new generation of therapies that could reduce allergies by desensitizing patients, according to the Washington Post.
The FDA is assessing whether the drug's benefits outweigh its side effects: One in 10 patients taking Palforzia during a trial had to stop because it caused abdominal pain, vomiting or allergic reactions requiring epinephrine. The drug does not eliminate peanut allergies completely. Most children who saw success after a year on the drug were only able to tolerate two peanuts.
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Palforzia is made by biotech company Aimmune Therapeutics. The company is seeking FDA approval for administering the drug to kids ages 4 to 17.