Dupixent is shifting the atopic dermatitis treatment

Treatment paradigm is shifting from simple symptom relief to modifying the underlying inflammation of the disease

RWE-based long-term effectiveness and safety were confirmed

Early treatment strategies for children…highlighted the changes to disease progression

Presentation by Jung Won Shin, Medical Lead at Sanofi, during the Dupixent media session

Atopic dermatitis treatment is expanding, moving from simple symptom relief toward changing the disease progression.

As treatment approaches shift toward mechanism-centered strategies following the introduction of biologics, the combination of long-term efficacy demonstrated in real-world data and early treatment strategies for children is prompting discussions of the possibility of 'disease modification.'

On the 21st, Sanofi held a media session titled 'Dupixent, Rewriting the Standards of Atopic Dermatitis Treatment' to share updates on the treatment paradigm and its clinical significance.

From Symptom Relief to Mechanistic Treatment…Changes in Atopic Dermatitis Approaches

Atopic dermatitis is increasingly recognized not just as a disease limited to skin symptoms, but as a chronic inflammatory condition that affects overall sleep, mental health, and comorbidities.

Jung Won Shin, Medical Lead at Sanofi, explained, "Atopic dermatitis is a disease accompanied by various disease burdens in addition to visible skin symptoms," and added, "A long-term management of the disease is crucial."

In particular, the emphasis was placed on the fact that the disease affects the patient's entire life, including sleep disorders, psychological withdrawal, and restrictions on social life, as well as an increased risk of infection due to skin barrier damage.

These disease characteristics are leading to changes in treatment goals. In the past, the focus was on short-term symptom relief using local steroids or systemic immunosuppressants. However, the current view is that treatment strategies are moving toward targeting the underlying inflammation of the disease.

Regarding this, Shin stated, "In the last 10 years, atopic dermatitis treatment has significantly changed, centering on mechanism-based targeted therapy."

In this process, Dupixent was presented as a representative case leading the expansion of treatment options as a biologic that simultaneously blocks the IL-4 and IL-13 pathways.

Efficacy Confirmed by Long-term Data…Strengthening Persistence·RWE Evidence

Long-term data collected in clinical settings were presented as key evidence supporting the treatment's persistence and efficacy.

According to Professor Yonghyun Jang of the Department of Dermatology at Kyungpook National University Hospital, who was in charge of the presentation, an analysis of domestic patient data showed a drug persistence rate of 80.4% over 4 years.

Furthermore, the EASI 75 achievement rate was 91.5%, and the EASI 90 achievement rate was approximately 44.1%, confirming that meaningful treatment responses are maintained in patients with moderate-to-severe conditions. These effects have been consistently demonstrated in actual clinical settings through global, long-term follow-up studies such as PROSE, GLOBOSTAD, and RELIEVE-AD.

Professor Jang stated, "EASI, pruritus (NRS), and quality of life (DLQI) indicators all show improvement from a relatively early point after starting treatment. Significant changes in indicators appear around the three-month mark."

Presentation by Professor Yonghyun Jang of the Department of Dermatology at Kyungpook National University Hospital

Professor Jang explained that these improvement effects do not end with short-term responses but tend to remain stable during long-term follow-up.

Similar trends were confirmed regarding Patient-Reported Outcome (PRO) indicators.

Professor Jang stated, "Meaningful improvements were demonstrated not only in objective indicators of skin lesions but also in the itching and quality of life indicators perceived by the patient. In particular, the improvement in the quality of life is characterized by being confirmed from a relatively early stage."

Professor Jang added, "In the long-term follow-up data, new safety issues were limited, and there were not many cases leading to treatment discontinuation in clinical practice."

Dupixent's RWE long-term follow-up data (6 years, RELIEVE-AD Registry)

Attention to Early Childhood Treatment…Possibility of Disease Modification

In particular, the media session that day presented early treatment strategies in pediatric patients and the possibility of disease modification as key points.

Professor Jang said, "Atopic dermatitis is highly likely to progress along this path if inflammation is not sufficiently controlled at an early age and exacerbations are repeated," and added, "Managing the inflammatory state stably in the early stages of the disease is important to lower the long-term disease burden."

Professor Jang also highlighted the role of Dupixent. This means that there is a possibility of a treatment approach that changes the natural course of the disease beyond simple symptom control.

Professor Yonghyun Jang of the Department of Dermatology at Kyungpook National University Hospital

According to the presentation, long-term follow-up studies confirmed a tendency for the disease-controlled state to be maintained after Dupixent treatment, and improvements were reported to persist in the ADCT indicator, which assesses patients' self-reported disease state.

In addition, improvements continued in major symptoms, such as itching and sleep problems, which served as indicators directly linked to changes in the patient's quality of life.

Furthermore, it was reported that Dupixent treatment reduced the risk of new allergies by approximately 34%, the risk of asthma by approximately 40%, and the risk of allergic rhinitis by approximately 31%.

Regarding this, Professor Jang stated, "If treatment is applied early in severe patients, there is a possibility of changing the course of the disease itself in some patients. This can be seen as a treatment approach that can change long-term disease progression beyond simply controlling symptoms."

During the Q&A session, it was mentioned that there are no concerns regarding long-term administration safety when administering Dupixent from childhood.

Professor Jang said, "Atopic dermatitis can progress to a persistent disease once it exceeds a certain level of inflammatory state. An approach that blocks this progression through early treatment is important."

Professor Jang also noted, "It is reported that the effect reappears even if Dupixent is re-administered after discontinuation. Resistance due to long-term use is not a significant concern."