Dupilumab Reduces Inflammatory Biomarkers in Pediatric AD: Study

Dupilumab significantly reduces inflammatory biomarkers in pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), according to results from recent phase 3 trials. 

Pediatric patients treated with dupilumab demonstrated substantial reductions in key serum biomarkers associated with type 2 inflammation compared to those who received placebo. The studies looked at patients aged 6 months to 17 years who receiving age- and weight-based dosages of dupilumab. In the youngest age group (6 months to 5 years), dupilumab was given every four weeks with topical corticosteroids; older patients (ages 6-11 and 12-17 years) were given dupilumab every two or four weeks without additional topicals.

According to the results, at week 16, patients treated with dupilumab showed a median reduction in thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC)/CC chemokine ligand 17 (CCL17) ranging from 72.4% to 83.3% to a significantly smaller reduction (1.8% to 14.9%) in the placebo group. Total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels decreased by 58.4% to 71.2% in the dupilumab group; the placebo group saw a reduction of only 21.0%. The researchers also reported reduced levels of actate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the dupilumab group (9.8% to 26.2%) compared to negligible changes in the placebo group. Absolute changes in eosinophil levels were minimal across all treatment groups, the authors reported.

"Dupilumab treatment for pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe AD significantly reduced levels of TARC/CCL17, total IgE, and LDH to levels comparable to those of healthy controls, reflecting a reduction in systemic type 2 and general inflammation," they concluded. 

Source: Beck L, et al. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2024. Doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2024.08.005