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Chattanooga doctor expects to have newly approved FDA peanut allergy drug next month

According to the FDA, peanut allergy impacts 1 million children in the U.S. and only one in five of those children will outgrow the allergy.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — A new drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could give children with peanut allergies a little bit of breathing room. 

The new drug, Palforzia, isn't a complete cure, but it could help reduce the chance of reactions by exposing children to peanuts. 

According to the FDA, peanut allergy impacts 1 million children in the U.S. and only one in five of those children will outgrow the allergy.

Dr. Todd Levin, Chattanooga Allergy Clinic, said there is a sense of anticipation in their clinic. 

"This is really the most exciting thing to happen to the allergy field in quite some time," Levin said. "Its basically peanut powder but the trick is how they've prepared it, and put it in tiny dosages so we can slowly increase the dose to retrain the body to develop some time of tolerance."

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Levin said they are in contact with the manufacturer. 

Once the staff goes through a risk management protocol, they will start prescribing the drug to patients. 

"The first several doses are given in our office over a three to four hour period to make sure there are no reactions then the patient goes home then takes a daily dose at the same time every day," Levin said. 

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Levin said they're still expecting some of the patients to have an allergic reaction. 

"In the clinical trials, about 15% of patients had to use an EpiPen at some point during it," Levin said. "These patients have to be monitored very closely in our office to make sure it's done safely." 

This story originally appeared on WRCB.com.

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