https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4820727-fda-approves-epinephrine-nasal-spray/
FDA Approves Neffy
The US Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the first-ever nasal spray to treat potentially severe allergic reactions. The spray, sold under the brand name Neffy, provides a needle-free alternative to traditional injectable epinephrine products like EpiPen (first introduced in 1987).
Neffy is designed for adults and children weighing at least 66 pounds and is administered as a single spray into one nostril. Studies showed Neffy achieved blood concentrations of epinephrine comparable to those from injections, along with similar physiological effects such as increased blood pressure and heart rate.
Epinephrine (see overview),
also known as adrenaline, is a hormone that helps stimulate the heart, relaxes muscles, and constricts blood vessels to improve breathing. It is used to help treat anaphylaxis, a life-threatening reaction to foreign substances in the body.
Nearly 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. Each year, more than 30,000 Americans visit emergency rooms due to anaphylaxis, with more than 2,000 hospitalizations and over 100 deaths.