Palforzia® for Children: What Parents Should Know This Winter

Palforzia®, the first NICE-approved peanut oral immunotherapy (OIT) for children, is being rolled out via NHS centres and offers hope—but it’s not a cure, and comes with commitments and considerations.

Who this helps: Parents of children aged 4–17 with diagnosed peanut allergy considering treatment options.

Key takeaways

• Not a cure, but reduces severity of reactions and accidental risk.

• Requires structured clinical supervision and multi-visit setup.

• Accessibility may vary—NHS capacity remains limited.

  
  

What’s happening now

Palforzia® is licensed for children and available in some NHS clinics; it desensitises by gradually increasing tolerance under medical supervision. However, NHS rollout is gradual due to resource constraints

Practical advice

• Talk to your paediatric allergist to see if your child is eligible.

• Understand the multi-step process and clinic visit schedule.

• Keep school and carers informed—they’ll need to know the plan.

When to seek help:If your child experiences severe reactions during dosing or at home, contact your clinic immediately.

References

• Evelina London (2025) Palforzia OIT for peanut allergy. Available at: https://www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/palforzia-for-peanut-allergy.pdf

• BSACI (2024) Guidance for Palforzia implementation. Available at: https://www.bsaci.org (

• Medscape (2022) Insufficient capacity for peanut desensitisation drug roll-out. Available at: https://www.medscape.co.uk/viewarticle/insufficient-capacity-peanut-desensitisation-drug-roll-out-2022a100263p