Key takeaways:
Dupixent (dupilumab) is a medication that can treat several inflammatory conditions, like moderate to severe asthma and eczema. It can lower the need for steroid medications.
Dupixent is a type of biologic medicine. It works by blocking a specific part of your immune system. This lowers inflammation.
Most people who take Dupixent only have mild side effects. Serious side effects are rare but can happen.
Dupixent (dupilumab) is an injectable medication that’s prescribed to help treat conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and eczema. Dupixent helps decrease inflammation and may help reduce your need for steroids.
Let’s take a closer look at how Dupixent affects your immune system, what conditions it can be used to treat, and the most common side effects.
What is Dupixent?
Dupixent is a type of biologic medicine. Biologics are complex medicines made from living organisms like bacteria, viruses, or human cells. They include vaccines, blood products, and gene therapies. Some biologic medications you may have heard of include:
Dupixent is an injectable biologic. It’s called a monoclonal antibody, which is a protein that targets specific parts of your immune system. Although Dupixent affects your immune system, it isn’t a steroid.
How does Dupixent work?
Dupixent works to block a type of inflammation called type 2 inflammation. It works by blocking two key triggers of inflammation:
Interleukin-4 (IL-4)
Interleukin-13 (IL-13).
Dupixent binds to a protein called the IL-4 alpha receptor. Once this site is blocked, IL-4 and IL-13 can’t tell immune cells to release substances that cause inflammation.
This improves health conditions associated with chronic inflammation, such as:
By blocking type 2 inflammation, Dupixent can also help relieve symptoms like itching, skin irritation, and breathing problems.
What is Dupixent used for?
Dupixent is FDA-approved to treat several medical conditions. Clinical trials are also underway to see if Dupixent can treat other conditions. Right now, Dupixent is approved by the FDA to treat the following.
Asthma
Not all asthma is the same. Some people have a form of asthma that involves type 2 inflammation. This form of asthma is harder to control. Researchers found that Dupixent works well for this group of people by lowering inflammation and improving breathing.
Learn more about biologics: Biologics like Dupixent are being used to treat many conditions, including autoimmune disorders and some types of cancer.
Biologics vs. small molecules: Explore how biologics and small molecule medications are different from each other.
Get “SMART” about asthma. Learn more about SMART therapy for asthma.
Dupixent is approved for people 6 years and older with moderate to severe asthma who:
Have eosinophilic asthma OR
Take oral steroids as part of their regular asthma treatment plan
Note: Dupixent shouldn’t be used alone to treat asthma.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Some people with COPD also have type 2 inflammation. These people can benefit from Dupixent treatment.
Dupixent is FDA-approved for adults who:
Have the eosinophilic form of COPD AND
Have ongoing symptoms despite steroid or antibiotic treatment
Note: Dupixent shouldn’t be used alone to treat COPD.
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a condition that causes chronic sinus inflammation along with nasal polyps.
Dupixent is FDA-approved for people 12 years and older who:
Have CRSwNP AND
Don’t get better with steroid treatments
Note: Dupixent shouldn’t be used alone to treat CRSwNP.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria
Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a medical condition that causes itchy welts (hives) to appear off and on for no clear reason. Dupixent appears to block the inflammatory pathways that cause CSU.
Dupixent is FDA-approved for people 12 years and older who:
Have chronic spontaneous urticaria AND
Don’t get better with antihistamine treatment
Eczema
Researchers have found that many people with eczema (also known as atopic dermatitis) have type 2 inflammation that affects their skin barrier. Dupixent works to decrease that inflammatory response and improve eczema symptoms.
Dupixent is FDA-approved to treat moderate to severe eczema in adults, children, and infants who:
Aren’t getting better with other eczema medications
Who can’t take other types of eczema medications
Eosinophilic esophagitis
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an inflammatory condition linked to certain foods. It causes symptoms like trouble swallowing, heartburn, or stomach pain.
Dupixent is FDA approved to treat children and adults with EoE who have ongoing symptoms that aren’t getting better with other types of EoE medications.
Prurigo nodularis
Prurigo nodularis is a rare skin condition that causes intense itching, followed by the formation of skin bumps or nodules. Experts believe Dupixent may work to treat this condition by blocking the itch-scratch cycle.
Dupixent is FDA-approved for adults with prurigo nodularis who have ongoing symptoms despite treatment with other medications.
How effective is Dupixent?
Dupixent’s effectiveness depends on the condition being treated. People with some conditions may experience bigger benefits than others. Let’s take a closer look.
Asthma
For people with moderate to severe asthma, Dupixent can reduce the number of asthma attacks. It can also reduce the need for oral steroids by almost half.
COPD
A 7-year study showed lots of benefits for people with COPD. Treatment with Dupixent was associated with:
A lower death rate
Fewer emergency room visits
Fewer COPD attacks
Improved symptoms with less need for medications
A lower risk of getting pneumonia
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP)
For CRSwNP, one review found that using Dupixent reduced nasal symptoms by half. Dupixent also reduced nasal polyps by about 30% and led to an improved sense of smell. Some people even said that their symptoms went away completely.
Chronic spontaneous urticaria
People with CSU who were treated with Dupixent had greater improvement in their symptoms than those taking a placebo. Some people taking Dupixent had complete clearance of their hives.
Eczema
Researchers found that 75% of people taking Dupixent had a significant improvement in their eczema symptoms. About half of people no longer needed other medications to control their eczema symptoms after starting Dupixent.
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE)
In one study of adults treated for a year, 85% had normal-looking esophageal tissue. They also had a significant improvement in symptoms. Studies in children have also shown similar results.
Prurigo nodularis
One study found that after 12 weeks of treatment with Dupixent, nearly 40% of people had significant improvement in their skin symptoms. That number went up to 60% after 24 weeks of treatment.
What are the side effects of Dupixent?
Like any medication, Dupixent may cause side effects. These can be different from person to person and can also depend on the condition being treated.
Possible Dupixent side effects include:
Pink eye (conjunctivitis)
Inflammation of your cornea (keratitis)
Joint pain
More frequent viral illnesses
Diarrhea
Dizziness
In rare cases, people can develop more severe reactions, like:
Increased eosinophils in their blood (eosinophilia)
Tissue swelling (angioedema)
Severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
In long-term studies, fewer than 1 in 20 people stopped Dupixent treatment because of side effects. This shows that, for most people, the benefits of Dupixent treatment outweigh the discomfort of side effects.
Frequently asked questions
Right now, some evidence shows that Dupixent doesn’t increase the risk of serious birth defects or other pregnancy complications. But there isn’t enough research to say it’s safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your healthcare team. They can help you understand the risks and benefits of continuing Dupixent treatment.
Early studies suggest that it can be safe to nurse while taking Dupixent. But there isn’t a lot of research in this area yet. If you’re nursing or planning to nurse, talk with your healthcare team about whether you should take Dupixent. They can help you weigh the pros and cons of continuing Dupixent treatment.
Dupixent needs to be refrigerated. Cold injections are more painful than room temperature ones. If you’re using a single-dose syringe, let it warm to room temperature before injecting. This may help ease pain. You can also alternate your injection site. Using the same site too many times in a row can also cause pain. Ask your healthcare team to check your injection technique. They may have more tips that can help ease pain.
You can get most vaccines while taking Dupixent. But you shouldn’t get live virus vaccines, like MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella (chickenpox), yellow fever, or influenza nasal spray (Flumist).
Dupixent should be stored in the refrigerator in its original container. The temperature should be between 36°F and 46°F. Dupixent shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight.
Right now, some evidence shows that Dupixent doesn’t increase the risk of serious birth defects or other pregnancy complications. But there isn’t enough research to say it’s safe to use during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning to become pregnant, talk with your healthcare team. They can help you understand the risks and benefits of continuing Dupixent treatment.
Early studies suggest that it can be safe to nurse while taking Dupixent. But there isn’t a lot of research in this area yet. If you’re nursing or planning to nurse, talk with your healthcare team about whether you should take Dupixent. They can help you weigh the pros and cons of continuing Dupixent treatment.
Dupixent needs to be refrigerated. Cold injections are more painful than room temperature ones. If you’re using a single-dose syringe, let it warm to room temperature before injecting. This may help ease pain. You can also alternate your injection site. Using the same site too many times in a row can also cause pain. Ask your healthcare team to check your injection technique. They may have more tips that can help ease pain.
You can get most vaccines while taking Dupixent. But you shouldn’t get live virus vaccines, like MMR (measles, mumps, rubella), varicella (chickenpox), yellow fever, or influenza nasal spray (Flumist).
Dupixent should be stored in the refrigerator in its original container. The temperature should be between 36°F and 46°F. Dupixent shouldn’t be exposed to direct sunlight.
The bottom line
Dupixent is used for the treatment of numerous inflammatory conditions, including moderate to severe asthma and eczema. So far, the FDA has approved Dupixent for seven different conditions. Your healthcare team may consider Dupixent injections if you have one of these health conditions and you aren’t getting better with other treatments.
Why trust our experts?
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