Dupixent® (dupilumab) Approved in the U.S. as the First and Only Medicine for Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis (AFRS)
Approval in adults and children aged 6 years and older supported by Phase 3 trial demonstrating Dupixent significantly reduced nasal signs and symptoms, and systemic corticosteroid use or surgery compared to placebo
AFRS is a chronic type 2 inflammatory disease of the sinuses characterized by an allergic hypersensitivity to fungi, often requiring surgery with high rates of post-operative recurrence
Dupixent is now approved in the
“Allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) is a disease that can leave both children and adults with inflamed nasal passages, nasal polyps and thick mucus causing constant nasal congestion. Some patients can also experience more serious complications like deterioration of bone around the sinuses and facial deformities,” said
AFRS is a chronic type 2 inflammatory disease. It is a specific subtype of chronic rhinosinusitis distinctly caused by an intense allergic hypersensitivity to fungi. It primarily affects people living in warm, humid climates where fungal spores are common in the environment. It can lead to nasal polyps, nasal congestion, loss of smell, thick mucus discharge, poor health-related quality of life, and patients can also experience bone loss around the sinus cavities and facial deformities. AFRS can be a severe and hard-to-treat form of chronic rhinosinusitis because it may not respond well to available options. Current standard-of-care treatment is surgery and prolonged courses of systemic steroids; however, disease recurrence is not uncommon.
“With this approval, Dupixent once again demonstrates its value in advancing the treatment landscape for a chronic type 2 inflammatory disease with high unmet need,” said
The FDA approval is supported by the LIBERTY-AFRS-AIMS Phase 3 trial, in which 62 adults and children aged 6 years and older with AFRS were randomized to receive an age- and weight-based dose of Dupixent (200 mg or 300 mg) every two or four weeks (n=33) or placebo (n=29). The differences for Dupixent compared to placebo were as follows:
- Primary Endpoint: Sinus opacification scores (a measure of extent of sinus involvement by the disease as assessed by computed tomography [CT] scans) improved by 50% versus 10% at Week 52 (7.36-point placebo-corrected reduction; p<0.0001); a significant reduction in sinus opacification scores was also observed at Week 24 (p<0.0001).
- Secondary Endpoints:
- Select nasal signs and symptoms
- Patient-reported nasal congestion/obstruction improved by 67% versus 25% at Week 24 (0.87-point placebo-corrected reduction; p<0.0001), with continued improvement at Week 52 to 81% compared to 11% (1.40-point placebo-corrected reduction; p<0.0001).
- Nasal polyp size (as assessed by endoscopy) reduced by 61% versus 15% at Week 24 (2.36-point placebo-corrected reduction; p<0.0001), with continued reduction of 63% compared to 4% up to Week 52 (2.77-point placebo-corrected reduction; p<0.0001).
- Sense of smell
- Patient-reported loss of smell reduced by 67% versus 19% at Week 24 (0.89-point placebo-corrected reduction; p<0.0001).
- Treatment burden
- 92% reduction in the risk of systemic corticosteroid use and/or need of surgery (29% fewer proportion of patients; p=0.0010) over 52 weeks. 3% or 0% of patients on Dupixent received systemic corticosteroids or had surgery, respectively, compared to 31% or 7% of patients on placebo.
- 92% reduction in the risk of systemic corticosteroid use and/or need of surgery (29% fewer proportion of patients; p=0.0010) over 52 weeks. 3% or 0% of patients on Dupixent received systemic corticosteroids or had surgery, respectively, compared to 31% or 7% of patients on placebo.
- Select nasal signs and symptoms
The safety results in the LIBERTY-AFRS-AIMS trial were similar to the known safety profile of Dupixent in CRSwNP. In pooled data from two pivotal CRSwNP trials in adults, the most common adverse reactions (≥1%) in the
“Before Dupixent, people living with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis had to rely on treatments that left them potentially vulnerable to regrowth of nasal polyps and thick mucus that could rob them of their sense of smell,” said
Additional submissions are planned to other regulatory authorities around the world.
About LIBERTY-AFRS-AIMS
The LIBERTY-AFRS-AIMS Phase 3 trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing the safety and efficacy of Dupixent in adults and children aged 6 years and older with AFRS. The 52-week trial included an age- and weight-based dose of Dupixent (300 mg every two weeks for adults and children weighing ≥60 kg, 200 mg every two weeks for children weighing ≥30 kg to <60 kg or 300 mg every four weeks for children weighing ≥15 kg to <30 kg) or placebo. More than 80% of patients had a history of type 2 comorbidities.
The primary endpoint assessed change from baseline in sinus opacification assessed by CT scans using the
- Change from baseline in patient-reported nasal congestion (NC; scale: 0-3).
- Change from baseline in nasal polyp score (NPS; scale: 0-8) as measured by endoscopy.
- LMK score.
- Change from baseline in patient-reported loss of smell (LoS; scale: 0-3).
Some secondary endpoints were also assessed at Week 52 in addition to proportion of patients requiring surgery or systemic corticosteroids during the treatment period. Proportion of patients with bone erosion in the sinuses as evaluated by CT scans was a tertiary endpoint assessed at Week 52.
About Dupixent
Dupixent is an injection administered under the skin (subcutaneous injection) at different injection sites. In adults with AFRS, Dupixent 300 mg is administered every two weeks. In children with AFRS, Dupixent is administered based on weight: 300 mg every two weeks for ≥60 kg, 200 mg every two weeks for ≥30 kg to <60 kg or 300 mg every four weeks for ≥15 kg to <30 kg. Dupixent is intended for use under the guidance of a healthcare professional and can be given in a clinic or at home after training by a healthcare professional. In children aged 12 to 17 years, Dupixent should be administered under the supervision of an adult. In children younger than 12 years of age, Dupixent should be administered by a caregiver if given at home.
Dupixent, which was invented using Regeneron’s proprietary VelocImmune® technology, is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signaling of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) pathways and is not an immunosuppressant. The Dupixent development program has shown significant clinical benefit and a decrease in type 2 inflammation in Phase 3 trials, establishing that IL-4 and IL-13 are two of the key and central drivers of the type 2 inflammation that plays a major role in multiple related and often co-morbid diseases.
Regeneron and Sanofi are committed to helping patients in the U.S. who are prescribed Dupixent gain access to the medicine and receive the support they may need with the DUPIXENT MyWay® program. For more information, please call 1-844-DUPIXENT (1-844-387-4936) or visit www.DUPIXENT.com.
Dupixent has received regulatory approvals in more than 60 countries in one or more indications including certain patients with atopic dermatitis, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), prurigo nodularis, chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bullous pemphigoid (BP) and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) in different age populations. More than 1,400,000 patients are being treated with Dupixent globally.1
About Regeneron’s VelocImmune Technology
Dupilumab Development Program
Dupilumab is being jointly developed by
In addition to the currently approved indications,
DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat adults and children 6 months of age and older with moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis or AD) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. DUPIXENT can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with AD under 6 months of age.
- with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid dependent asthma in adults and children 6 years of age and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. DUPIXENT helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing. DUPIXENT may also help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids you need while preventing severe asthma attacks and improving your breathing. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with asthma under 6 years of age.
- with other medicines for the maintenance treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in adults and children 12 years of age and older whose disease is not controlled. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with CRSwNP under 12 years of age.
- to treat adults and children 1 year of age and older with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), who weigh at least 33 pounds (15 kg). It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with EoE under 1 year of age, or who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kg).
- to treat adults with prurigo nodularis (PN). It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with PN under 18 years of age.
- with other medicines for the maintenance treatment of adults with inadequately controlled chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and a high number of blood eosinophils (a type of white blood cell that may contribute to your COPD). DUPIXENT is used to reduce the number of flare-ups (the worsening of your COPD symptoms for several days) and can improve your breathing. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with COPD under 18 years of age.
- to treat adults and children 12 years of age and older with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) who continue to have hives that are not controlled with H1 antihistamine treatment. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with CSU under 12 years of age, or who weigh less than 66 pounds (30 kg).
- to treat adults with bullous pemphigoid (BP). It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with BP under 18 years of age.
- to treat adults and children 6 years of age and older with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS), who have had surgery on their nose or sinuses in the past. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with AFRS under 6 years of age.
DUPIXENT is not used to relieve sudden breathing problems and will not replace an inhaled rescue medicine or to treat any other forms of hives (urticaria).
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use if you are allergic to dupilumab or to any of the ingredients in DUPIXENT®.
Before using DUPIXENT, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have eye problems.
- have a parasitic (helminth) infection.
- are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” right before and during treatment with DUPIXENT.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby.
- A pregnancy registry for women who take DUPIXENT during pregnancy collects information about the health of you and your baby.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether DUPIXENT passes into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you are taking oral, topical, or inhaled corticosteroid medicines; have asthma and use an asthma medicine; or have AD, CRSwNP, EoE, PN, COPD, CSU, BP, or AFRS and also have asthma. Do not change or stop your other medicines, including corticosteroid medicine or other asthma medicine, without talking to your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by those medicines to come back.
DUPIXENT can cause serious side effects, including:
- Allergic reactions. DUPIXENT can cause allergic reactions, including skin reactions, that can sometimes be severe. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms: breathing problems or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded, fast pulse, fever, hives, skin rash, including rash that looks like a bullseye, painful red or blue bumps under the skin, or red pus-filled spots on the skin, general ill feeling, itching, swollen lymph nodes, nausea or vomiting, joint pain, or cramps in your stomach area.
- Eye problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision, such as blurred vision. Your healthcare provider may send you to an ophthalmologist for an exam if needed.
- Inflammation of your blood vessels. Rarely, this can happen in people with asthma who receive DUPIXENT. This may happen in people who also take a steroid medicine by mouth that is being stopped or the dose is being lowered. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get: rash, chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, brown or dark colored urine, persistent fever, or a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of your arms or legs.
- Psoriasis. This can happen in people with atopic dermatitis and asthma who receive DUPIXENT. Tell your healthcare provider about any new skin symptoms. Your healthcare provider may send you to a dermatologist for an examination if needed.
- Joint aches and pain. Some people who use DUPIXENT have had trouble walking or moving due to their joint symptoms, and in some cases needed to be hospitalized. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or worsening joint symptoms. Your healthcare provider may stop DUPIXENT if you develop joint symptoms.
The most common side effects include:
- Eczema: injection site reactions, eye problems, including eye and eyelid inflammation, redness, swelling, itching, eye infection, dry eye, and blurred vision, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia).
- Asthma: injection site reactions, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), pain in the throat (oropharyngeal pain), and parasitic (helminth) infections.
- Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: injection site reactions, eye problems, including eye and eyelid inflammation, redness, swelling, itching, eye infection, and blurred vision, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), stomach problems (gastritis), joint pain (arthralgia), trouble sleeping (insomnia), and toothache.
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and joint pain (arthralgia).
- Prurigo Nodularis: eye problems, including eye and eyelid inflammation, redness, swelling, itching, and blurred vision, herpes virus infections, common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis), dizziness, muscle pain, and diarrhea.
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: injection site reactions, common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis), high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), viral infection, back pain, inflammation inside the nose (rhinitis), diarrhea, stomach problems (gastritis), joint pain (arthralgia), toothache, headache, and urinary tract infection.
- Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: injection site reactions.
- Bullous Pemphigoid: joint pain (arthralgia), eye problems, including eye and eyelid inflammation, redness, swelling, itching, and blurred vision, and herpes virus infections.
- Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis: injection site reactions, eye problems, including eye and eyelid inflammation, redness, swelling, itching, eye infection, and blurred vision, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), stomach problems (gastritis), joint pain (arthralgia), trouble sleeping (insomnia), and toothache.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all the possible side effects of DUPIXENT. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Use DUPIXENT exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. It’s an injection given under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider will decide if you or your caregiver can inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to prepare and inject DUPIXENT until you or your caregiver have been trained by your healthcare provider. In children 12 years of age and older, it’s recommended DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult. In children 6 months to less than 12 years of age, DUPIXENT should be given by a caregiver.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.
About
Regeneron pushes the boundaries of scientific discovery and accelerates drug development using our proprietary technologies, such as VelociSuite, which produces optimized fully human antibodies and new classes of bispecific antibodies. We are shaping the next frontier of medicine with data-powered insights from the Regeneron Genetics Center® and pioneering genetic medicine platforms, enabling us to identify innovative targets and complementary approaches to potentially treat or cure diseases.
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About Sanofi
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