Health Canada has approved the first needle-free epinephrine treatment for severe allergic reactions: a nasal spray called Neffy.
ALK Canada, which purchased the rights to distribute the drug, says the two-milligram treatment has been approved for adults and pediatric patients who weigh at least 30 kilograms — roughly 66 lbs.
It says the spray could be on the market as soon as this summer.
As it stands, epinephrine auto-injectors — known by the brand name EpiPen — are the only emergency treatment option available for allergic reactions.
EpiPens are single-use, pre-filled devices used to shoot a dose of epinephrine into the muscle.
Neffy was approved for use in the United States in summer 2024, where it is also available in a one-milligram dose for kids who weigh 15 to 30 kilograms. That dose has not been approved in Canada.
A news release from ALK Canada says that the Neffy product is pocket-sized and has a shelf life of 30 months from its time of manufacture.
Food Allergy Canada, a Toronto-based non-profit organization, is applauding the approval of the two-milligram treatment as “an important step forward” that gives Canadians more choices.
