Anaphylm™* Epinephrine Sublingual Film is the first and only orally delivered film using Aquestive's novel prodrug of epinephrine in clinical development that has the same target indication as that for epinephrine injection in the emergency treatment of Type 1 allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
Aquestive recognizes the need for an oral formulation of epinephrine and is leveraging its proprietary PharmFilm® technology to develop this treatment.
Anaphylaxis is a serious systemic hypersensitivity reaction with rapid onset and potentially fatal.
The most common causes of reactions that can include anaphylaxis are medications, foods (such as peanuts), and venom from insect stings. Epinephrine injection is the current standard of treatment intended to reverse the potentially severe manifestation of anaphylaxis, which may include red rash, throat swelling, respiratory problems, gastrointestinal distress, and loss of consciousness.
The Unmet Need
Epinephrine is the cornerstone of anaphylaxis management, yet it continues to be underutilized due to:
In a nationwide patient survey by Wood, 52% of patients who had previously experienced anaphylaxis had never received an epinephrine auto-injector prescriptionand 60% of respondents did not have an epinephrine auto-injector currently available
Late administration of epinephrine has been linked to greater risk of a biphasic reaction, a recurrence of anaphylaxis following treatment for the condition
Severe outcomes and fatalities have been correlated with delayed administration of epinephrine
The currently available treatments are EpiPen®, which takes an average time of 22 minutes to reach maximum concentration in the blood, and epi 0.3mg intramuscular injection, which takes an average of 45 minutes to reach maximum concentration in the blood*
Anaphylm™ has the potential to solve these issues. The product:
Is similar in size to a postage stamp
Weighs less than an ounce
Begins to dissolve on contact with no water or swallowing required for administration
Has thinner and smaller packaging than an average credit card, can be carried in a pocket, and is designed to withstand weather excursions such as exposure to rain and/or sunlight
Anaphylm™ would allow patients and their providers to:
Quickly deliver epinephrine to control emerging symptoms and prevent progression
Alleviate the fears associated with auto-injectors and self-injury including needle phobia
Prevent improper administration or suboptimal dosing, including associated adverse events such as injection site necrosis and/or infections
Reduce the likelihood of noncompliance or delayed dosing because the sublingual film is small, portable, and can be administered quickly and easily
"Speed matters in delivering systemic epinephrine during an anaphylaxis event. Any delay can result in severe bronchospasm, acute respiratory failure and/or cardiovascular collapse including less favorable outcomes including death."
Dr. David Bernstein, University of Cincinnati
"The PK profile of DESF shows an impressively rapid onset of action. The early Tmax and high Cmax fit the profile that is most desirable to stop anaphylaxis at an early stage and prevent progression to more severe reaction. The rapid achievement of high concentrations with DESF would seem ideal for early and effective treatment of anaphylaxis."
For information on our experienced Scientific Advisory Board members who share our goal of simplifying complex treatment conditions to improve the patient experience in allergy, visit:
*Received conditional proprietary approval from FDA
1. Turner PJ, et al. World Allergy Org J. 2019;12100066. 2. Shaker, M, et al. Allergy Clinical Immunology J. 2021; Volume 145, Number 4. 3 https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/allergies/anaphylaxis. 4. Simons FE et al. World Allergy Organ J . 2015;8(1):32. 2. 5. Wood RA, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014;133:461-467. 6. Chad L, et al. Eur J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013;68:1605-1609. 7. Orenius T, et al. SAGE Open Nursing. 2018;4:1-8. doi:10.1177/2377960818759442. 8. Song TT, et al. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2015;15:323-328. doi:10.1097/ACI.0000000000000185. 9. Dudley LS, et al. West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(3):385-387. doi:10.5811/westjem.2015.25337. 10. Cardona V, et al. World Allergy Org J. 2020;13:13100472. 11. Mcleon & Rogers M. J Adv Nurs. 2019;75(1):30-42. 12. Cardona V, et al. World Allergy Org J. 2020;13:13100472. 13. Rachid et al., (2020): Pharmaceutics. 2018;10(1):24
Please complete this form:
Please complete the form below and click SEND to receive a copy of “Overcoming Solubility and Permeability Challenges,” a case study detailing the achievements made by Aquestive’s formulation team to create the diazepam buccal film.
Please complete the form to receive a demonstration kit for our PharmFilm® technology.
Please complete this form:
Whether we are partnering to out license our PharmFilm® technology or in-licensing adjacent assets, Aquestive works hand-in-hand with our partners to address their toughest clinical and business challenges. To learn more, please complete the following form:
Please complete the form below and click submit to receive a copy of “The Art of LGS Book.”
Please complete our short form to speak with a business development specialist.
ARE YOU A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER?
Please acknowledge that you are a healthcare provider or scientific professional. This information is intended for healthcare providers and scientific professionals only.
This site uses cookies to store information on your computer. Some are essential to make our site work; others help us improve the user experience. By using the site, you consent to the placement of these cookies.