Dupixent approved for severe atopic dermatitis in children from 6 months

30th January 2023

Dupixent has had a license extension in the EU so that it can now be used to treat severe atopic dermatitis in children from 6 months of age

The manufacturer Regeneron described how data from a study in The Lancet, showed that Dupixent treatment plus topical corticosteroids (hydrocortisone 1%) was effective in children under 6 years of age.

The Lancet trial enrolled and randomised 162 children aged 6 months to 6 years, to the drug or placebo. In the trial, participants were included if they had an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 3 – 4, which represents moderate to severe disease.

The drug was given at a dose based on the bodyweight. For instance, if > 5 kg but < 15 mg, a dose of 200 mg was given once every 4 weeks and for children weighing > 15 kg but < 30 kg, a dose of 300 mg was given. The primary endpoint was set as the proportion of participants with an IGA score of 0 or 1 (i.e., clear or almost clear) skin after 16 weeks.

At week 16, there was a 24% difference in IGA scores between Dupixent and placebo and which was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The study also observed that the drug’s safety profile was generally in line with what might be expected.

The press release describes how in practice, 85 to 90% of children will develop atopic eczema before the age of 5 years and in Europe alone, it is estimated that up to 80,000 children aged between 6 months and 5 years have uncontrolled severe atopic dermatitis and might therefore benefit from a trial of systemic therapy.

According to the EMA, Dupixent will now be indicated for the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis in children 6 months to 11 years and who are candidates for systemic therapy.

The drug was approved for the same paediatric population by the FDA in June 2022.