Hospitalizations Reduced With Monoclonal Antibody for Moderate-to-Severe Atopic Dermatitis

Adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis who received dupilumab with or without concomitant topical corticosteroids had a lower rate of all-cause and atopic dermatitis-related hospitalizations compared with patients who received placebo, according to pooled data from 7 trials. Researchers published their findings in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice.

“Overall, there was a 49% reduction in all-cause hospitalizations and a 60% reduction in atopic dermatitis-related hospitalizations with the approved dupilumab posology (300 mg every 2 weeks),” researchers reported.

The seven trials in the analysis were double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks and/or weekly, with or without topical corticosteroids. The dupilumab group included a total 1841 patients, and the control group included 1091 patients.

Per 100 patient-years, all-cause hospitalizations were 9.0 events for the control group compared with 5.8 events for the every-2-weeks dupilumab group, 2.7 events for the weekly dupilumab group, and 3.8 events for both dupilumab groups combined, according to the study. The associated risk reduction was 49% with every-2-week dosing, 71% with weekly dosing, and 62% for both dupilumab groups combined.

Meanwhile, atopic dermatitis-related hospitalizations per 100 patient-years were 4.1 events for the control group compared with 2.0 events for the every-2-weeks dupilumab group, 0.4 events for the weekly dupilumab group, and 1.0 events for the combined dupilumab group. Risk reductions were 91% with weekly dosing and 79% for both dupilumab groups combined, the study showed.

The overall duration of atopic dermatitis-related hospitalizations was lower with dupilumab, too. Compared with 38.9 days for per 100 patient-years for the control group, hospitalization durations were 10.9 days for the every-2-weeks dupilumab group, 7.3 days for the weekly dupilumab group, and 8.6 days for the combined dupilumab group.

“These analyses show that the efficacy of dupilumab translates into a benefit of reduced hospitalizations, overall and those related to atopic dermatitis,” researchers wrote. “Although all-cause hospitalizations may include events that have no relationship to the drug or atopic dermatitis, a reduction of all-cause hospitalizations provides additional information relevant to the safety profile of dupilumab.”

Reference:
Silverberg JI, Rubini NPM, Pires MC, et al. Dupilumab treatment reduces hospitalizations in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022;10(5):1279-1285.e1. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.034