It’s unbelievable that they have decided to take such a step backward. Before the therapy, the constant fear of an allergic reaction had dominated daily life (snacks from the school cafeteria, field trips, children’s birthday parties, etc.). Now the only option left is to replicate the therapy on one’s own responsibility, or to have it replicated in collaboration with a reputable clinic.
https://allergyasthmanetwork.org/news/palforzia-discontinued/
Palforzia is the only oral immunotherapy (OIT) for food allergy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. It treats peanut allergy in children ages 1 through 17. The notice on Stallergenes Greer’s Palforzia website reads: “This voluntary discontinuation is not related to product safety, quality, or efficacy.” Palforzia earned FDA approval in 2020. It was originally developed by Aimmune. Nestle Health Science bought Aimmune and then sold Palforzia to Stallergenes Greer.
If Nestlé hadn’t acquired “Aimmune Palforzia” in 2020, things would certainly have turned out differently.
Here is a rough description of how the therapy worked.
You can find detailed PDFs on this topic by searching for “Palforzia therapy plan.”
Challenge testing at the clinic
At the clinic, tests are conducted using a placebo and “peanut powder in chocolate pudding” to determine how much peanut the child can tolerate. (The emergency kit must always be on hand)
Build-up phase
The first therapy dose of “peanut powder in chocolate pudding” is administered at the clinic; every subsequent increase in the dose level takes place under the supervision of the attending physician. (The emergency kit must always be on hand.) During the 14 days between each increase, the parents mix the peanut powder into chocolate pudding or applesauce daily (no medical supervision required). If an allergic reaction occurs, the emergency kit must be used. One day per week may be skipped.
Dose level / Daily dose / Duration of the dose:
The maintenance phase follows the build-up phase
Instead of 300 mg of peanut powder, 1–2 sugar-coated peanuts (M&Ms, Nic Nac, or natural without coating) can also be used as the maintenance dose (no medical supervision required)
After 12 months, the final challenge test is conducted at the clinic
There, using a placebo and peanut powder in chocolate pudding, they test how much peanut the child can tolerate.
After the final challenge test, the clinic recommends how many sugar-coated peanuts the child should consume per week to maintain immunity.
Coated with what exactly?
I have added some examples in my english translation. Doctor said the majority preferes sugar-coated, like M&Ms.
Are you supposed to swallow the coated peanuts like pills, or chew them like m&ms?
You chew them, like a normal person eats m&ms.