RX Review: Updates in Pediatric Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis for 2025 - Episode 3
RX Review: Needle-Free Epinephrine and Emerging Food Allergy Treatments
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In this video, part 3 of a 5-part series, panelists discuss on how needle-free epinephrine and evolving therapies are reshaping food allergy management.
In this HCPLive and Contemporary Pediatrics RX Review Special Report, Brian Schroer, MD, leads a discussion with Colleen Kraft, MD, and Russell Traister, MD, on how needle-free epinephrine and evolving therapies are reshaping food allergy management.
Traister highlights that while epinephrine nasal spray (neffy) offers a less invasive option, its suitability depends on patient preferences—some children may resist nasal sprays just as strongly as needles. He stresses the importance of individualized discussions with families.
Kraft adds that beyond emergency care, the emergence of oral immunotherapy (OIT) and biologics like omalizumab (Xolair) are breaking the misconception that food allergies can only be managed through avoidance. She notes that children on omalizumab often experience reduced anxiety, empowering them to engage in social activities like school lunches and birthday parties with more confidence.
The panel discusses ideal candidates for omalizumab, including children with documented anaphylaxis, those with severe anxiety about accidental exposure, patients with multiple food allergies, and teenagers prone to risk-taking behaviors.
Editor's note: As of March 5, the FDA has expanded epinephrine nasal spray’s approval to treating type 1 allergic reactions in children as young as four years old, offering a new option for younger patients weighing 15 to less than 30 kg—equivalent to the junior dose of self-injectable epinephrine.
Our Panelists:
Brian Schroer, MD, is an allergist immunologist at the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital. Board-certified in internal medicine, pediatrics, and allergy and immunology, Schroer serves as the moderator for this panel discussion.
Colleen Kraft, MD, is a clinical professor of Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In addition to these roles, Kraft is also the former president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Russell Traister, MD, is a pediatric allergy and immunology specialist at Allegheny Health Network’s Pediatric Institute. Board-certified in allergy, immunology, and internal medicine, Traister serves as the third panelist for our discussion.
Relevant disclosures for Schroer include Genzyme, AstraZeneca, Amgen, GSK, and Sobi. Relevant disclosures for Kraft include Sanofi and Sobi. Relevant disclosures for Traister include Abbvie.
