Cited by 18Dermatology and Skin DiseasesContact Dermatitis and AllergiesAsthma and respiratory diseases

The safety data of Dupilumab for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in infants, children, adolescents, and adults

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Langley, Richard G., Gherardi, Guy, Coleman, Anna, Ardeleanu, Marius, Rodríguez-Marco, Ainara, Levy, Stephane, Bansal, Ashish, Chen, Zhen +3 more·2025·American Journal of Clinical Dermatology

Abstract

Atopic dermatitis (AD) significantly affects quality of life in patients of all ages and requires long-term treatment. Dupilumab is approved for uncontrolled moderate-to-severe AD in patients aged ≥ 6 months and in other type 2 inflammatory diseases. Data from placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials (RCTs) and long-term open-label extensions (OLEs) enable comprehensive assessment of dupilumab’s safety profile for up to 5 years. To integrate short- and long-term dupilumab safety data in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. We describe safety from eight phase 3 trials with > 7000 patient-years of dupilumab use: five 16-week RCTs in children (6 months–11 years, with concomitant topical corticosteroids [TCS]) and adolescents and adults (≥ 12 years, without TCS); one 52-week RCT in adults (with TCS); and two OLEs in children and adolescents (6–11- and 12–18-year cohorts, ± TCS, duration ≤ 1 year) and adults (± TCS, duration ≤ 5 years). The proportion of patients experiencing ≥ 1 treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE) in RCTs was lower with dupilumab versus placebo in children/infants and was similar with dupilumab versus placebo in adults/adolescents. Exposure-adjusted incidence rates with longer-term treatment in OLEs were similar to the RCTs. Most TEAEs reported in RCT and OLE studies were mild to moderate and not related to study drug (per investigators). Fewer patients in the dupilumab versus placebo treatment arms experienced serious TEAEs (16-week RCTs: infants/children 0.8% vs 3.0%; adults/adolescents 2.0–2.2% vs 4.6%; 52-week RCT: 3.2–3.6% vs 5.1%). Common TEAEs that had higher incidence rates with dupilumab compared with placebo in RCTs included injection-site reactions (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities High Level Term) and conjunctivitis (clustered term). Serious infections and non-herpetic skin infections were more frequent with placebo. In the most comprehensive dupilumab safety assessment to date, safety was consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile. [Graphical abstract and video abstract available.] ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT03346434; NCT03345914; NCT03054428; NCT02277743; NCT02277769; NCT02260986; NCT01949311; NCT02612454. EudraCT: 2016-000955-28; 2016-004997-16; 2015-004458-16; 2014-001198-15; 2014-002619-40; 2013-003254-24; 2013-001449-15; 2015-001396-40. Atopic dermatitis is a chronic skin disease that affects people of all ages. Since patients with atopic dermatitis require continuous, life-long treatment, doctors and patients must understand the risks and benefits of treatment options before choosing one medication over another. This study reviews the safety of the drug dupilumab, which is used to treat infants, children, adolescents, and adults who have moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with topical corticosteroids. We looked at side effects and safety data from more than 4000 patients who received either dupilumab or placebo treatment for up to 5 years in eight clinical trials. This study is the largest safety analysis of dupilumab to date. We found that children 6 months to 11 years receiving dupilumab had fewer side effects than patients in the placebo group. Adolescents and adults (12 years and older) taking dupilumab and placebo had similar rates of side effects. Serious side effects were more frequent in the placebo than in the dupilumab group in all age groups. Most side effects in patients who received dupilumab were mild or moderate, were not caused by dupilumab, and did not stop patients from taking dupilumab. The most common side effects that occurred more frequently in dupilumab-treated patients were pain or swelling around the injection location, common colds, and conjunctivitis. In conclusion, the safety of dupilumab in over 3000 patients in this study is consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile for infants, children, adolescents, and adults.

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  • Skin diseases, including chronic inflammatory conditions like eczema and psoriasis, are widespread globally and can impose a significant disease burden, especially in moderate-to-severe symptoms.

    “Skin diseases, including chronic inflammatory conditions like eczema and psoriasis, are widespread globally and can impose a significant disease burden, especially in their moderate-to-severe symptoms (15).”

    From Revolutionizing dermatopathology using AI in skin diagnostics: scoping review (2026) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Introduction (page not provided) describes atopic dermatitis, or eczema, as an inflammatory skin disease affecting people of all ages and says moderate-to-severe disease carries a high burden. It does not establish that skin diseases are widespread globally or address psoriasis, so the citation supports only the eczema-burden portion of the sentence. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  1. [29]ICH Harmonised Tripartite Guideline: Clinical safety data management: definitions and standards for expedited reporting E2A. International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. 1994. https://database.ich.org/sites/default/files/E2A_Guideline.pdf. Accessed 12 Nov 2024.
  2. [76]Goleva E, Berdyshev E, Kreimer S, et al. Dupilumab inhibits expression of fibronectin and fibrinogen, skin proteins that regulate Staphylococcus aureus adhesion to atopic dermatitis skin. 12th Georg Rajka International Symposium on Atopic Dermatitis, Oct 17–19, 2022; hybrid congress: virtual and Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
  3. [113]Allinne J, Scott G, Birchard D, Asrat S, Nagashima K, Le Floc’h A, et al. Broader impact of IL-4Rα blockade than IL-5 blockade on mediators of type 2 inflammation and lung pathology in a house dust mite-induced asthma mouse model. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2019;199:A5555.

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Authors
Langley, R. G., Gherardi, G., Coleman, A., Ardeleanu, M., Rodríguez-Marco, A., Levy, S., Bansal, A., Chen, Z., Rossi, A. B., Shumel, B., & Khokhar, F. A.
Affiliations
  • Dalhousie University (CA)
  • Sanofi (United Kingdom) (GB)
  • Regeneron (United States) (US)
Corresponding author
Langley, Richard G.
Venue
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology
Published
2025-09-24
Volume
26
Issue
6
Pages
981-1002
ISSN
  • 1175-0561 (ISSN-L)
  • 1179-1888
OpenAlex
W4414459865
Cited by
18
References
106
Citations by year
2026: 18
FWCI
17.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • American Journal of Clinical Dermatology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
  • Sanofi
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Contact Dermatitis and Allergies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Asthma and respiratory diseases
Keywords
dupilumab, atopic dermatitis, drug safety, treatment-emergent adverse events, children and adolescents, topical corticosteroids, injection site reactions, conjunctivitis, serious infections, type 2 inflammation, serious adverse events, quality of life
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Child, Child, Preschool, Dermatitis, Atopic, Dermatologic Agents, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Quality of Life, Severity of Illness Index, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Treatment Outcome, Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic, Young Adult, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized

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