The European Medicines Agency (EMA) committee has given a positive recommendation for approval of the first drug in the EU adrenaline (epinephrine), which people experiencing allergic shockcan be taken by inhalation rather than injection.
The drug is called, the EMA reported. EURneffy and is rapidly absorbed by the mucous membrane lining the inner wall of the nose. It will be used for emergency treatment of severe allergic reactionswhich can be life-threatening. When such reactions cause a drop in blood pressure, they are called allergic or anaphylactic shock.
According to the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI), allergy is the most common chronic disease in Europe. It is estimated that at least 150 million Europeans suffer from chronic allergies, and 7 million from food allergies. About 20% of these patients suffer from severe forms. Therefore, they live every day with the fear of developing allergic (anaphylactic) shock. If this happens, they need urgent treatment. Otherwise, airway obstruction or cardiovascular collapse may occur, and the patient may die.
Adrenaline (epinephrine)
Adrenaline can save patients' lives because it reduces the anaphylactic reaction. It also relaxes the smooth muscles of the lungs, making breathing easier and improving blood circulation.
Today, people with severe allergies are forced to inject themselves with adrenaline if they experience allergic shock. However, in many cases, they or their caregivers delay administering the drug, the EMA emphasizes. This may be due to a number of reasons, including:
- fear of needles
- insufficient preparation for injections.
New adrenaline can solve this problem, as it is administered in a much simpler way.
How effective is it?
Adrenaline EURneffy, For ethical and practical reasons, it has not been tested in patients with allergic shock. It has been tested in 537 healthy volunteers aged 19-55 in 14 different clinical studies. They compared the body's response to intramuscular injection of adrenaline. In particular, its effect on the participants' blood pressure and heart rate was studied. Its absorption, metabolism, and elimination from the body (i.e., pharmacokinetics) were also studied.
Inhaled adrenaline was found to be as effective as intramuscular adrenaline and produced similar side effects, with the exception of nasal irritation and sniffling, which some volunteers experienced.
The EMA Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has thus issued a positive opinion for approval of the drug in the European Union. The final decision will be taken by the European Commission within the next two months.
More Stories
Pool: How to Protect Skin and Hair from Chlorine
Greece: Outbreak of listeriosis, a potentially fatal disease
Caution: Medicines That Increase the Risk of Sunburn