Takeaway
- The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has issued its final report on immunotherapy for peanut allergy, and they urge that these therapies are not ready to take the place of vigilant avoidance.
- The therapies do desensitize patients, the ICER panel noted, but are linked to increased allergic reactions and epinephrine use.
Why this matters
- ICER compared Viaskin Peanut (DBV Technologies), AR101 (Aimmune Therapeutics), and noncommercialized oral immunotherapy.
- They noted pending FDA decisions for AR101 (January 2020); the application for Viaskin Peanut was pulled in December 2018 but is expected to be resubmitted.
Key findings
- The panel noted the remaining area of unmet need and that a solution to peanut allergy could greatly relieve the anxiety burden to patients and caregivers.
- They also noted that uncertainties persist about the long-term benefits and risks.
- Therapies pending commercialization both have potential market price ranges in the thousands of dollars annually.
- Thus, ICER also issued an Affordability and Access Alert for these 2 potential commercial products.
- Key recommendations from the deliberations:
- More evidence is needed about long-term efficacy, safety of the therapies.
- Outcomes should be patient-centered.
- Only specialists should prescribe desensitization therapies, or where needed, a primary clinician consulting with a specialist.
References
References
