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DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens and Kaléo announced Thursday AUVI-q (epinephrine injection, USP) 0.1 mg auto-injector is available at Walgreens locations nationwide. AUVI-q 0.1 mg is the first and only epinephrine auto-injector (EAI) approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for infants and toddlers weighing 16.5 to 33 pounds (7.5 to 15 kilograms). Through this collaboration, Walgreens is the first national retail pharmacy to offer the entire AUVI-Q auto-injector product line, which also includes AUVI-Q 0.3 mg and 0.15 mg doses.
An estimated 7.6% of U.S. children aged 17 years or younger were found to have a food-specific allergy based on survey data from 38,408 children. The same study also found that 42.3% of children with a food allergy have a history of at least one severe food allergic reaction.
“With the addition of an AUVI-q auto-injector for infants and toddlers at Walgreens pharmacies nationwide, we can help ensure families and children facing life-threatening allergies have convenient and affordable access to the medicines they need,” said Rina Shah, group vice president of specialty and retail pharmacy at Walgreens. “Expanding our agreement with kaléo is one more way that Walgreens is helping lower costs for patients, increasing accessibility to care and creating a seamless experience for our customers and patients.”
All eligible patients with commercial insurance, even those with high-deductible plans, can obtain AUVI-Q at no cost. For eligible patients who do not have insurance or prescription drug coverage, kaléo may be able to support through the Kaléo Cares Patient Assistance Program. Please see additional information on patient eligibility and the terms and conditions at www.auvi-q.com/get-auvi-q/.
As supply issues related to epinephrine auto-injector products by other manufacturers continue, the collaboration aims to broaden access to an available treatment option for patients with life-threatening allergies, especially as families prepare for back-to-school season.
“With approximately one in 13 children in the U.S. living with life-threatening food allergies2, it is critically important that parents and caregivers be able to access an epinephrine auto-injector,” said Phil Rackliffe, general manager of Allergy and Pediatrics at Kaléo. “Families can get AUVI-Q 0.3 mg, 0.15 mg, and now, 0.1 mg, with a prescription, on-site at Walgreens locations nationwide.”
AUVI-Q features a voice instruction system that helps guide users step-by-step through the injection process, as well as a needle that automatically retracts following administration. It is about the size of a credit card and thickness of a cell phone, and fits in most pockets. AUVI-Q is available in three doses – AUVI-Q 0.3 mg for those weighing 66 pounds (30 kilograms) or more, AUVI-Q 0.15 mg for children weighing between 33 and 66 pounds (15 to 30 kilograms) and AUVI-q 0.1 mg for infants and toddlers 16.3 to 33 pounds (7.5 to 15 kilograms).
AUVI-Q is a prescription medicine approved by the FDA to treat life-threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions. Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can happen quickly and may cause death2. Anaphylaxis can occur from exposure to allergens including tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, soy, wheat, insect bites, latex and medication, among other allergens3-7. AUVI-Q does not take the place of emergency medical care. Patients need to seek immediate medical treatment after using AUVI-Q.
