Blow for peanut allergy sufferers as only prevention drug is withdrawn

Young people with peanut allergies were dealt a huge blow this week after it was announced the only drug to reduce the risk of deadly reactions was being pulled from chemist shelves.

Stallergenes Greer, the manufacturer of the immune system treatment Palforzia, insisted the decision was not related to safety concerns. 

It added that it has informed healthcare providers it will be discontinuing production worldwide.

Calling the move ‘worrying’ and ‘upsetting’ for families, allergy charity Anaphylaxis UK said: ‘At present, there are no other licensed immunotherapy treatment options for peanut allergy.’

It added that without the treatment, ‘children who have been diagnosed with a peanut allergy will need to continue strict peanut avoidance and continue to always carry their emergency medication and allergy action plan’.

Originally developed by Aimmune Therapeutics, Palforzia was purchased by Nestlé in 2020 for a reported £2.1bn. 

The food giant then sold it to Stallergenes Greer in 2023 – and at the time the drug was reported to have been considered ‘a commercial flop’ due to lower-than-expected uptake from doctors.

The manufacturer has agreed to a ‘wind down period’ during which time families will still be able to access treatment, but advised that no new patients should be started on the drug after 1 April.

Palforzia – a powder containing tiny amounts of pharmaceutical-grade peanut flour – was approved for NHS use in 2021, a year after it was given the green light by US regulator the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

By gradually exposing peanut allergy sufferers to increasing doses of the substance, it effectively retrains the immune system, desensitising it and reducing the risk of severe reactions.

Patients must take the medication every day to maintain its effect, and attend regular medical appointments to monitor for any reactions.

Although they are still advised to avoid peanuts, it can help reduce the risk of anaphylaxis – the most severe and life-threatening form of allergic reaction, which can cause swelling of the airways and suffocation. 

This can be triggered by even trace amounts of peanut in food.

Peanut allergy affects one in 50 children – roughly 240,000 in the UK and one million in the US – making it among the most common food allergies. 

While one in five youngsters ‘outgrow’ the condition, for most it is life-long.

Severity can vary, but in some cases exposure to tiny amounts of peanut can be rapidly fatal without emergency treatment.

In 2020, 23-year-old James Atkinson, from Newcastle, died from anaphylaxis after eating a takeaway pizza from a restaurant that contained peanut powder. 

And in 2023, Hannah Glass, a 19-year-old college student from Wisconsin, died after consuming a brownie made with roasted peanut flour.

Anaphylaxis UK said the decision was ‘a setback for the allergy community’ but added: ‘Extensive research into allergy treatments is ongoing.

‘In particular, significant progress is being made in real-food immunotherapy, with the aim of making these treatments safer, more effective and more widely available through the NHS in the future.’

It advised those currently taking Palforzia to continue on their current dose, and raise any concerns with their allergy team. 

Patients were also advised against trying to create a DIY version of the treatment with peanut flour.

‘Palforzia is an oral peanut allergen powder that allows children to be exposed to carefully measured, consistent amounts of peanut protein each day, with doses increased gradually under medical supervision. 

‘It is a pharmaceutical-grade treatment, meaning it has been manufactured to meet strict standards for quality, purity, and consistency required of a licensed medicine.

‘As part of this process, Palforzia is also screened and treated to remove naturally occurring contaminants such as fungus that can be present in peanuts. 

‘These controls are not routinely applied to standard peanut flour.’

A spokesperson for Stallergenes Greer told the Daily Mail: ‘Stallergenes Greer has made the decision to discontinue Palforzia worldwide after conducting a strategic review.

‘While the product has demonstrated strong clinical efficacy and safety, the complex administrative and dosing requirements have contributed to limited adoption in clinical practice.

‘Stallergenes Greer remains focused on advancing innovative and practical solutions in allergen immunotherapy including food allergy. 

‘The experience gained from Palforzia will inform future research and development efforts focused on practical patient-centred options.’