New law encourages schools to stock epinephrine for allergic reactions

NEW YORK — New legislation signed into law Wednesday encourages states to adopt laws allowing schools to maintain a supply of emergency treatments for life-threatening allergy attacks.

Barack Obama signed the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, under which schools could maintain a supply of epinephrine, which is the only first-line treatment for life-threatening allergic reactions, also known as anaphylaxis.

The legislation received praise from Mylan, a drug maker that produces EpiPen, a popular epinephrine injector pen.

"Recent tragedies have reinforced that when anaphylaxis occurs, every minute matters, and immediate access to epinephrine and emergency medical care is crucial," Mylan CEO Heather Bresch said. "The new federal law is a critical step for improving anaphylaxis preparedness in schools. We applaud those who worked tirelessly to make this bill a reality, from Congress, government officials and leading advocacy organizers to parents, caregivers, patients and healthcare professionals."