(CNN) The US Food and Drug Administration approved the first drug to treat peanut allergies in children on Friday, following an advisory committee vote of approval in September.

The drug, Palforzia, can be used for children between 4 and 17 years old. It's designed to minimize the incidence and severity of a child's allergic reaction to peanuts, as even a small amount of exposure can be harmful to children with the allergy.

Children are left attempting to avoid exposure to peanuts to avoid reactions. Though that will continue to be necessary with Palforzia, the risk of a reaction will be lessened, says Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement.

"When used in conjunction with peanut avoidance, Palforzia provides an FDA-approved treatment option to help reduce the risk of these allergic reactions in children with peanut allergy," he said.

More than 2.5% of all American children are allergic to peanuts, according to The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. It's one of the most common food allergies in the country.

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