Kaléo to Donate AUVI-Q® Epinephrine Auto-Injectors to Public Elementary Schools

Kaléo, a privately-held pharmaceutical company, today announced a new charitable product donation program, offering AUVI-Q® (epinephrine injection, USP) auto-injectors free of charge to all public elementary schools in the United States.

The new program, called “Q Your School,” provides up to four AUVI-Q cartons (each carton contains two epinephrine auto-injectors and a Trainer) per school per academic year free of charge, as well as access to educational materials on how to identify and respond to life-threatening allergic emergencies.

AUVI-Q (0.15 mg and 0.3 mg) is a FDA-approved prescription medicine used to treat life- threatening allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, in people who are at risk for or have a history of serious allergic reactions. It is an epinephrine auto-injector that features voice instructions that help guide a user step by step through the epinephrine delivery process. It also includes  an automatic retractable needle system, a first for epinephrine auto-injectors, that injects the epinephrine and retracts the needle back into the device within seconds.

“There are nearly 6 million children, under 18, living with life-threatening allergies,” said Spencer Williamson, President and CEO of kaléo. “We are proud to offer the “Q Your School” charitable donation program offering free AUVI-Q Auto-injectors to all public elementary schools across the nation.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are approximately 67,000 public elementary schools in America. Through the Kaléo Cares Product Donation Program, qualified applicants may apply to receive up to four AUVI-Q cartons (each carton contains two epinephrine auto-injectors and a Trainer) per school per academic year, free of charge. There are no obligations, such as marketing or product exclusivity requirements, attached to the “Q Your School” program.

“Schools play an important role in helping to keep kids with food allergies safe,” said Melanie Carver, Vice President of Community Services at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). “This is an exciting program because it helps schools be better prepared to recognize and respond to life-threatening allergic emergencies.”

Identical twin brothers, Evan and Eric Edwards, the inventors of AUVI-Q, know what it is like to live with life-threatening allergies, both as patients themselves and parents of food-allergic children. Their goal was to develop an epinephrine auto-injector that contained innovative features, such as a voice instruction system that helps guide patients and caregivers step-by- step through the injection process. Evan and Eric Edwards believe and trust in AUVI-Q, not only for themselves, but also for their children and other families who may have to depend on it to administer epinephrine during an allergic emergency.

“Not all kids with food allergies are the same. They may have different needs and preferences,” said Tonya Winders, President & CEO of the Allergy and Asthma Network. “This is an exciting announcement because it helps schools to be more aware of the various epinephrine auto-injector options now available to students at risk for a life-threatening allergic emergency and know how to use them in an emergency.”