Daily Medication Pearl: Dupilumab (Dupixent)

Medication Pearl of the Day: Dupilumab (Dupixent)

Indication: Dupilumab is an interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha antagonist indicated for the treatment of adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis whose disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable. Dupilumab can be used with or without topical corticosteroids.

Insight:

• Dosing: Injection 300 mg/2 mL solution in a single-dose pre-filled syringe with needle shield.
• Dosage form: Administer by subcutaneous injection. The recommended dose is an initial dose of 600 mg (two 300 mg injections in different injection sites), followed by 300 mg given every other week.
• Adverse events (AEs): Most common AEs (incidence ≥1%) are injection site reactions, conjunctivitis, blepharitis, oral herpes, keratitis, eye pruritus, other herpes simplex virus infection, and dry eye.
• Mechanism of action: Dupilumab is a human monoclonal IgG4 antibody that inhibits IL-4 and IL-13 signaling by specifically binding to the IL-4Rα subunit shared by the IL-4 and IL-13 receptor complexes. Dupilumab inhibits IL-4 signaling via the Type I receptor and both IL-4 and IL-13 signaling through the Type II receptor.
• Manufacturer: Regeneron/Sanofi

Sources:

• DUPIXENT (dupilumab) injection (fda.gov)
• Take Action With DUPIXENT® (dupilumab)