Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (Jan 2018)
Profile of dupilumab and its potential in the treatment of inadequately controlled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis
Abstract
Olabola Awosika,1 Lori Kim,2 Momina Mazhar,2 Monica Rengifo-Pardo,1,2 Alison Ehrlich1,2 1Department of Dermatology, The George Washington Medical Faculty Associates, Washington, DC, USA; 2George Washington University School of Medicine & Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA Abstract: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder that manifests as eczematous lesions, often associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma. Historically, moderate-to-severe disease has been managed with systemic immunosuppression, such as oral corticosteroids, which result in relapse and limiting side effects. Due to recent advancements in the identification of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 as key mediators in AD, new biological agents have been developed for treatment. Dupilumab is a recently approved monoclonal antibody that targets the alpha subunit of the IL-4 receptor and, thus, downregulates activity of IL-4 and IL-13. This review discusses the profile of dupilumab and its potential for efficacy and safety in treating moderate-to-severe AD by reviewing data from Phase I–III clinical trials. Results suggest that dupilumab shows great therapeutic promise for AD. Further studies investigating extended use of dupilumab and dupilumab in comparison to other agents are needed to establish long-term efficacy and safety. Keywords: atopic dermatitis, dupilumab, IL-4, IL-13, biologics
