E-Greetings from the Allergy Advocacy Association

April 2022 e-news Issue

Welcome to Spring! In this newsletter you can learn about our association’s critical legislative efforts for anaphylaxis emergency training for New York State teachers. We’ll share with you how one family’s tragedy has spurned successful efforts to help increase the access to epinephrine in Wisconsin. Here you can read how about new research detailing how “recent advances in science have made it possible to set safety thresholds for trace quantities of allergens” from Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS). And we report how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to AQST-109 “the first and only orally delivered epinephrine-based product candidate for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.”

Concerning our advocacy efforts in New York State, Food Allergy Awareness Day NY will be a virtual event again this year. The date for FAAvD NY ’22 is WEDNESDAY, May 4th starting at 10am. For more details please visit our website and register for this important lobbying day.

What is anaphylaxis? How would you recognize an anaphylaxis emergency? And would you know what are the right things to do? For many people, even those that have a life-threatening allergy, the answer is no.

The Allergy Advocacy Association has a solution:
Our Epi Near You NY anaphylaxis emergency training program.
And it's VIRTUAL! Direct from the internet into your home or office!

Our virtual association would help provide:

Free state approved training presentation
New York State recognized certification
Assistance for public entities to obtain a non-patient specific prescription for emergency epinephrine

For more information, visit our Our Epi Near You NY webpage.

We Need Anaphylaxis Emergency Training for NYS Teachers

“One in 13 children has food allergies. That equals two kids at risk for anaphylaxis in every classroom across America”, according to data from the nonprofit advocacy group Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE). If ever there was a statistic that proves the need/importance/value of anaphylaxis emergency training for NYS teachers, that stat would be it. Learn more about the challenges that parents face, the ongoing efforts to promote emergency training for NYS teachers and the "Teacher Training'' bill (A523 and S587) re-introduced this year.

We Need Anaphylaxis Emergency Training for NYS Teachers

Jon Terry
15 April 2022

Greetings. Concerning life-threatening allergies and anaphylaxis, just how safe are kids in New York State public schools? What laws are currently in place to protect kids from anaphylaxis emergencies? Are there loop-holes, gaps or errors in childcare at schools that need to be corrected? While discussing these questions in this article the Allergy Advocacy Association provides new developments and context.

For the past twelve years legislation requiring anaphylaxis emergency training for newly certified teachers has been an important objective for our association. This year Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal along with activist advocates have re-introduced the "Teacher Training'' bill (A523 and S587), an act to amend the education law, in relation to requiring newly certified teachers to receive instruction in the use of an epinephrine auto-injector. Why is this law so important?

Public Health Organization Calls for Allergen Thresholds Product Labeling

If you have a life-threatening food allergy, accurate food product labels are essential. With 32 million Americans at risk for anaphylaxis, with approximately six million of those being children, it can potentially be life-saving. Recently the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) published a paper entitled “Trends in Food Allergy Research, Regulations and Patient Care”. This important paper provides " an overview of food allergies, their impact on affected individuals and caregivers, regulatory activities, and current research efforts to improve allergen management and patient care."

Public Health Organization Calls for Allergen Thresholds Product Labeling

By Dave Bloom
2022/04/15

The Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) is a non-profit organization concerned with public health. Earlier this week, they published a paper entitled “Trends in Food Allergy Research, Regulations and Patient Care” that provides an overview of food allergies, their impact on affected individuals and caregivers, regulatory activities, and current research efforts to improve allergen management and patient care."

WI Governor Signs “Dillon’s Law 2.0”

Dillon Mueller was an 18 year old Eagle Scout when he died Oct. 4, 2014, after suffering a severe allergic reaction from a bee sting. There was no epinephrine available in the first aid kits of either the friend with him, or the arriving volunteer first responders. From this tragedy, “Dillon’s Law”, was enacted in Wisconsin, in 2018, to help promote greater access to life saving epinephrine. Recently Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed “Dillon's Law 2.0”, building on the previous legislation that helps greater access to life saving epinephrine.

WI Governor Signs “Dillon’s Law 2.0”

April 10^th, 2022
MADISON, WI

“Dillon’s Law 2.0,” which expands the availability of epinephrine auto-injectors for individuals having a life-threatening allergic reaction, was signed into law today by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers.

State Sen. André Jacque (R-De Pere), lead Senate co-author, and Assembly co-author Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Gibson), said this new law is a common-sense expansion of the original 2018 Dillon’s Law that will make saving lives even easier.

“Dillion’s Law is especially important, because it is life-saving legislation born from tragedy, and a continuing legacy,” said Sen. Jacque.

Eighteen-year-old Dillon Mueller died Oct. 4, 2014, after he suffered a severe allergic reaction from a bee sting when no epinephrine was available in the first aid kits of either the friend with him, or the arriving volunteer first responders.

Aquestive Therapeutics AQST-109 on FDA Fast Track

Having the opportunity to have “an orally delivered epinephrine” could be a game changer. Recently Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQST), announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to AQST-109, “the first and only orally delivered epinephrine-based product candidate for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis”. The FDA Fast Track process is “designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of potential therapies that seek to treat serious conditions and fill unmet medical needs.”

Aquestive Therapeutics AQST-109 on FDA Fast Track

KFA News Team
April 10^th, 2022
WARREN, N.J.

Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:AQST), a pharmaceutical company advancing medicines to solve patients' problems with current standards of care and provide transformative products to improve their lives, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to AQST-109, the first and only orally delivered epinephrine-based product candidate for the emergency treatment of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.