Allergy Shot Medication: Why There's No Brand Name for Allergy Shots
Allergy shot medication is a misleading framing — SCIT, the most effective injection-based allergy treatment, is not a medication in the pharmaceutical drug sense. It is allergen extract (FDA CBER, not CDER) custom-mixed in the allergist's office from Greer, ALK-Abelló, or HollisterStier starting materials. There is no branded SCIT finished-drug product. The injectable products that ARE drugs are Xolair, Dupixent, Tezspire (biologics) and depot steroids — all discouraged or requiring ongoing use without post-treatment remission.
6 peer-reviewed sources
Allergy shot medication — SCIT — is allergen extract, not a conventional pharmaceutical drug. It is FDA CBER-licensed (not CDER), custom-mixed per patient, with no brand name. Biologic drugs (Xolair, Dupixent) and depot steroids (Kenalog) are injection medications but none produces post-treatment remission like SCIT.
The essentials
Allergy shot medication leads with 'shot' as the noun and 'medication' as the descriptor — and the most important clarification this page provides is that the most effective shot-based allergy treatment, SCIT, isn't a medication in the pharmaceutical sense at all.
SCIT (subcutaneous immunotherapy) uses allergen extract: the same proteins a patient is allergic to, custom-mixed in each allergist's office from FDA-licensed raw materials. The allergen extract is regulated by FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), not the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). There is no branded SCIT finished-drug product — no Pfizer or Merck of allergy shots. Extracts come from US FDA-licensed manufacturers: Greer Laboratories (now Stallergenes Greer), ALK-Abelló, and Hollister-Stier (now Jubilant HollisterStier). The allergist prepares a custom mixture per the ACAAI Allergen Immunotherapy Extract Preparation Instructional Guide to match each patient's confirmed sensitization profile.
This structure is fundamentally different from FDA-approved SLIT tablets — Grastek (Timothy grass), Oralair (5-grass mix), Ragwitek (short ragweed), Odactra (house dust mite) — which ARE branded finished-drug products with NDA approvals, dispensed by specialty pharmacy, and sold under brand names.
The injectable products that ARE medications (drugs) in the pharmaceutical sense are the biologics: Xolair (omalizumab, anti-IgE, FDA-approved 2003; food-allergy expansion February 16, 2024); Dupixent (dupilumab, anti-IL-4Rα, FDA-approved March 2017); and Tezspire (tezepelumab-ekko, anti-TSLP, FDA-approved December 17, 2021). Also in the drug category: depot corticosteroids — Kenalog-40 (triamcinolone acetonide, first FDA-approved February 1, 1965) and Depo-Medrol (methylprednisolone acetate). The AAAAI/ACAAI Rhinitis Practice Parameter discourages single depot corticosteroid administration for routine allergic rhinitis and states recurrent administration is contraindicated.
SCIT remains the only injection-based allergy intervention with documented post-treatment remission in randomized trials. Durham SR et al (NEJM 1999;341:468-475) showed a 3-year course produces 4 additional years of durable benefit off treatment. The biologics require indefinite ongoing injections.
Curex pairs at-home IgE testing with allergist review to identify the specific allergens driving symptoms — which determines what allergen extract goes into a SCIT prescription, or whether sublingual immunotherapy is a better match.
Ready to skip the surprise bills?
See if at-home allergy shots fit your allergies — a 2-minute quiz, designed by board-certified allergists, with flat monthly pricing and no clinic visits.
- 4.8/5Patient rating
- $129/moFlat pricing
- 50K+Patients treated
- HSA/FSAEligible
Same proven results. No clinic visits.
Curex's at-home allergy shots deliver the same allergen desensitization as clinic SCIT — for a flat $129/month, with no clinic visits and no facility fees.
See if at-home shots are right for youTreatment options side by side
The 'shot medication' framing leads patients to look for a branded drug. The practical answer is that SCIT — the shot with the best long-term evidence — has no brand, while the branded injection medicines (biologics) require indefinite use.
| Treatment | Efficacy | Duration | Cost (5yr) | Convenience | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCIT (allergen extract — no brand, not a drug) | |||||
Xolair (omalizumab) — branded biologic drug | |||||
At-home allergy shots (Curex SCIT) |
- Efficacy
- Duration
- Cost (5yr)
- Convenience
- Safety
- Efficacy
- Duration
- Cost (5yr)
- Convenience
- Safety
- Efficacy
- Duration
- Cost (5yr)
- Convenience
- Safety
Curex delivers real SCIT allergy shots at home for $129/month — a personalized serum sterile-compounded to USP <797> standards and prescribed by a board-certified allergist, self-administered as one weekly shot with the first dose and every dose change supervised live over Zoom and a prescribed epinephrine auto-injector confirmed on hand. Same allergen-extract immunotherapy as clinic SCIT, without the office trips.
See if at-home shots are right for youFrequently asked questions
What is the allergy shot medication called?
The allergy shot medication — SCIT — does not have a brand name. It is a custom-mixed allergen extract prepared in each allergist's office from FDA-licensed starting materials supplied by Greer Laboratories (Stallergenes Greer), ALK-Abelló, or Hollister-Stier (Jubilant HollisterStier). The clinical name is subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) or allergen immunotherapy. For insurance billing, the relevant codes are CPT 95117 (two or more injections per visit) and 95165 (extract preparation per dose). There is no pharmacist-dispensed brand name because SCIT is prepared by the prescribing allergist, not a drug manufacturer.
Is SCIT considered a drug or a biologic?
SCIT allergen extracts are technically biologics in the FDA regulatory sense — they are regulated by FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), not the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). However, in clinical usage, 'biologic' typically refers to monoclonal antibodies (Xolair, Dupixent, Tezspire) rather than allergen extracts. SCIT extracts are licensed at the manufacturer level (19 are standardized; many others are non-standardized) but are custom-prepared rather than dispensed as branded finished-drug products. This regulatory classification matters: SCIT is not a specialty pharmacy drug, while biologics like Xolair are billed as specialty pharmacy J-code drugs.
Why doesn't SCIT have a brand name like Xolair or Dupixent?
SCIT does not have a brand name because it is a custom-prepared allergen extract mixture, not a standardized finished-drug product. Each patient's SCIT prescription contains a unique combination of allergens at specific concentrations matched to their confirmed IgE sensitization profile — a 16-allergen mix for a polysensitized patient is different from a 3-allergen mix for a monosensitized patient. This customization is a strength of SCIT, but it means there is no single finished product that can be branded and sold through a pharmacy distribution network. In contrast, FDA-approved SLIT tablets (Grastek, Oralair, Ragwitek, Odactra) ARE standardized finished products for specific allergens and therefore do have brand names.
What medications need to be stopped before allergy shots?
Beta-blockers (including topical ophthalmic beta-blockers like timolol drops) are a relative contraindication for SCIT because they can interfere with epinephrine treatment of systemic reactions — the prescribing allergist should review this with each patient. Antihistamines do not need to be stopped before SCIT injections (unlike skin testing, which requires antihistamine hold). ACE inhibitors are another drug that may increase systemic reaction risk during SCIT and should be discussed with the allergist. Oral immunosuppressants may affect SCIT efficacy. Patients who are on Xolair or other biologics should discuss with their allergist whether concurrent SCIT is clinically appropriate.
How much does the allergy shot medication cost?
The cost of allergy shot extract preparation (CPT 95165) has a 2025 Medicare allowed amount of $13.91 per dose per the CMS PFS CY 2025 Final Rule (FR Doc 2024-25382). A year's worth of maintenance injections might require 20-26 doses, putting annual extract preparation cost at roughly $280-360 at Medicare rates. Commercial insurers pay higher rates and patients pay copays or deductible amounts. Without insurance, annual extract preparation typically costs $450-600; the injection administration fees (CPT 95117) add another $20-100 per visit depending on the practice setting. There are no pharmacy medication costs for SCIT — it is prepared in the office.
Are there pills instead of allergy shot medication?
FDA-approved SLIT tablets dissolve under the tongue and are taken daily rather than injected. Four FDA-approved pollen and dust-mite SLIT tablets are available: Grastek (Timothy grass, ages 5-65), Oralair (5-grass mix, ages 5-65), Ragwitek (short ragweed, age 5+), and Odactra (house dust mite, ages 5-65). All carry boxed warnings for anaphylaxis and require a supervised first dose with epinephrine prescription. For allergen sensitization patterns not covered by these four products — such as tree pollens, cat dander, dog, or mold — off-label sublingual drops provide a non-injection alternative. Antihistamines and nasal corticosteroids are pills/sprays that manage symptoms but do not modify disease.
Related Articles
Long-Term Allergy Treatment: SCIT Is the Only Disease-Modifier
Long-term allergy treatment with immunotherapy (SCIT/SLIT) is the only option with post-treatment remission. Cox/Murphey 2020 PMID 31761122. Durham 1999 NEJM: 3 yr course, 4 yr remission.
Read moreAllergy Shots: The Complete Patient Guide to SCIT | Curex
Allergy shots (SCIT) are the only FDA-recognized disease-modifying allergy treatment. Learn who qualifies, how they work, and what alternatives exist.
Read moreAllergy Test Shots vs Treatment: CPT Codes | Curex
Allergy test shots (CPT 95004 prick, CPT 95024 intradermal) diagnose sensitization in one visit. Treatment shots (SCIT, CPT 95115/95117) are a 3-5 year immunotherapy course.
Read moreAllergy Shots for Kids: PAT Study & Age Guide | Curex
Allergy shots from age 5. PAT study: 3 yrs SCIT halves asthma risk (OR 4.6). At-home SCIT via Curex for eligible pediatric families.
Read moreCat Allergy Shots for Humans | Curex SCIT Guide
Cat allergy shots for humans traditionally mean ~95–119 clinic visits over 3–5 years (23.9% quit, Tkacz 2021). Curex delivers that SCIT at home, $129/mo.
Read moreAllergy Medicine Injection: SCIT vs Biologics vs Steroids | Curex
Allergy medicine injections include SCIT (allergen extract — not a drug), Xolair, Dupixent, and depot steroids. SCIT is the only option with 4-yr post-treatment remission per NEJM 1999.
Read moreGet your allergy shots — without the clinic.
Curex's flat $129/month covers end-to-end at-home immunotherapy — a personalized serum compounded to USP <797> sterile standards, board-certified allergist oversight, and one weekly injection you give yourself at home. No clinic visits, no facility fees. HSA/FSA eligible.
$129/mo flat · No facility fees · HSA/FSA eligible · Cancel anytime
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about a medical condition. Content reviewed by board-certified allergists at Curex.