Sanofi's Auvi-Q epinephrine injection now available

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Sanofi announced today that Auvi-Q (epinephrine injection, USP) is now available in U.S. retail pharmacies nationwide with a prescription from a healthcare provider.

Auvi-Q is the first-and-only epinephrine auto-injector with audio and visual cues for the emergency treatment of life-threatening allergic reactions in people who are at risk for or have a history of anaphylaxis. The size and shape of a credit card and the thickness of a smart phone, Auvi-Q is a breakthrough in epinephrine auto-injector device design that talks patients and caregivers step-by-step through the injection process.

“Patient feedback was a critical component to the development process for Auvi-Q,” said Anne Whitaker, president of North America Pharmaceuticals, Sanofi. “The availability of Auvi-Q represents an important step forward in our continued innovation to meet the needs of people at risk for anaphylaxis and their caregivers.”

Up to six million Americans may be at risk for anaphylaxis, although the precise incidence is unknown and may be underreported. While guidelines emphasize the importance of the life-saving role of epinephrine, recent surveys show that two-thirds of patients and caregivers do not carry their epinephrine auto-injectors as recommended, and nearly half worry that others will not know how to use their or their child’s epinephrine auto-injector correctly during an emergency. Multiple studies have found an association between delay in epinephrine administration and death from anaphylaxis.