Turning Food Allergy Triggers Into Therapy: A Managed Care Lens on Immunotherapy and Targeted Biologics

This activity was originally broadcast live at AJMC® Day of Education Spring 2023.

Program Description

In the US, it is estimated that 26 million adults and 5.6 million children have food allergies, with up to one half of individuals presenting with allergies to multiple foods. Avoidance approaches for management of severe food-related reactions still pose risk of accidental ingestion and severe reactions, including anaphylaxis. However, ongoing research targeting both immunotherapy and biologic therapy to improve one’s desensitization and tolerance to food allergens has yielded promising results. Managed care professionals must understand the benefit of immunotherapy and targeted biologics as treatment strategies to prevent severe allergic reactions in instances of accidental allergen ingestion to develop effective policies that protect and support access to appropriate therapies for those vulnerable to food allergen exposure. This activity will review the pathophysiology and severity of immunoglobulin E-mediated food allergies, with a focus on available and investigational strategies to facilitate early allergen introduction, mitigate severe reactions, and improve the patient’s health-related quality of life. Considerations for the rising incidence of food allergies and its contribution to high health care resource utilization will also be discussed.

Target audience: Managed Care Pharmacists

Type of activity: Application
Release date: May 8, 2023
Expiration date: May 8, 2024

Time to complete activity: 1.5 hours
Learner level: Foundational, intermediate
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explain key limitations, barriers, and quality of life impacts associated with current approaches for managing food allergies and minimizing severe anaphylaxis episodes.
• Examine the immunological pathways underlying immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy and the data to support the use of immunotherapies and emerging biologics targeting the inflammatory pathways.
• Identify opportunities to implement treatment protocols to reduce disease burden and address gaps in the management of patients with IgE-mediated food allergies with immunotherapy and targeted biologics.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-23-224-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through May 8, 2024.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Disclosures

Andrew M. Peterson, PharmD, PhD, FCPP, has the following financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Grant/Research Support: Alden Geriatrics, Amerisource Bergen

Consultant: Pfizer

Speaker's Bureau: American Association of Nurse Practitioners; Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association

Expert Witness: Nixon/Peabody 

Michael S. Blaiss, MD, FACAAI, FAAAAI, has the following financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Consultant: Sanofi, Regeneron, ALK, ProAllergy, Lanier Biotherapeutics, Merck, Bellus

Speaker's Bureau: Sanofi, Regeneron, Merck

The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh, MBA; Karleen Rush, PharmD; Lauren Assennata; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta.

Anonymous peer reviewers have been used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose. 

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

For questions about this internet CPE activity, please contact:
[email protected]
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Information:
www.pharmacytimes.org/terms