When I first heard about Neffy, the new FDA-approved epinephrine nasal spray that could replace the dreaded needle for treating anaphylaxis, I was thrilled as a mom whose two nut-allergic children have sent her down research rabbit holes. I’ve rehearsed countless times the moment when I would need to stab my kids in the thigh with an Epipen. The idea of a quick, needle-free solution for emergencies seemed like a huge relief.
Neffy, approved by the FDA in August 2024, could be a major game changer in making epinephrine delivery more accessible and user-friendly, especially for those of us who hesitate to use injections under pressure. How ingenious and why couldn’t they have invented this sooner?
Neffy Is Not Ready for Real-life Use Yet
Unfortunately, after a little bit of research, I’m sorry to say that we should probably just stay tuned for now. Here are my research takeaways:
- Neffy was only tested on adults and wasn’t tested on anyone that was actually undergoing anaphylaxis during the clinical trials. The FDA appears to have measured effectiveness based on levels of epinephrine concentration in the blood.
- Neffy is only available to children and adults, weighing at least 66 lbs.
- Some allergists recommend proceeding with caution and carrying both the nasal spray and the good, old auto-injector.
- At our recent appointment in October 2024, our food allergist told us that she would not prescribe the spray to children until there is more widespread use showing its effectiveness.
- Neffy isn’t much cheaper than epipens, and is currently priced at $199 on GoodRx.
Neffy or Nothing?
Of course, if the choice is between not carrying anything around or using Neffy, definitely having Neffy is preferred. Most resources suggested that everyone should check with their own allergist about whether Neffy is appropriate for their use.
Things I wish I knew before. . . 