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BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — Mylan Specialty L.P. is partnering with a roster of pro baseball teams to host Allergy Awareness games at select stadiums across the country.
The marketer of EpiPen Auto-Injector (epinephrine), Mylan Specialty said Wednesday that the Allergy Awareness games will feature reserved seating areas for people with potentially life-threatening allergies to peanuts, the most common food allergen among children.
Plans call for the series of games to start on May 31, when the Pittsburgh Pirates will face the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Kicking off during National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month, the Allergy Awareness games are part of the year-long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the EpiPen Auto-Injector. Mylan said the epinephrine auto-injector, the first of its kind, was developed for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions, also known as anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis has many possible triggers, occurs quickly, without warning and must be treated immediately with epinephrine. Today, with more than 46 million EpiPen Auto-Injectors dispensed, it remains the No. 1 prescribed epinephrine auto-injector, according to Mylan.
"In 2012, Mylan partnered with the Pittsburgh Pirates to host the first annual Allergy Awareness game, and we are excited to expand the effort this year with events across the country," stated Heather Bresch, chief executive officer of Mylan. "We are proud to partner with these teams to help families managing severe allergies attend a baseball game for what may be their first time at the ballpark. These Allergy Awareness games are just one example of our commitment to help meet the needs of people at risk for anaphylaxis."
Throughout the games, fans will have the opportunity to learn more about severe allergies. An estimated one in 13 U.S. children have a food allergy, according to Mylan. Each team will highlight severe allergy facts and figures on screens throughout the stadium and invite one fan who is at risk for anaphylaxis to throw out the first pitch.
"Last year’s Allergy Awareness Night at PNC Park was a terrific success, so we are thrilled to partner once again with Mylan Specialty on this important initiative," Pirates president Frank Coonelly said in a statement. "We are pleased to offer our fans affected by peanut allergies more opportunities to experience Pirates baseball in a supportive environment."
