Assessing the need for routine safety testing for patients being treated with dupilumab for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (also known as AD or eczema) is a common skin disease that can cause intense and persistent itching and rashes. Skin creams or ointments are not suitable or effective for some patients with moderate-to-severe AD. In these patients, oral (taken by mouth) or injected medications may be required. Some of those oral or injected treatments could be toxic and often have unwanted side effects, especially when used for a longer period of time, so patients must be regularly tested to see whether those treatments are harming their blood or organs. Dupilumab is a newer injectable drug for treating moderate-to-severe AD. Dupilumab specifically targets key molecules in the body that cause AD. Dupilumab has been tested for up to one year in more than 2000 patients enroled in placebo-controlled clinical trials. During those trials, patients provided blood and urine samples for laboratory testing while they were being treated with dupilumab or placebo (dummy drug). In this paper, the authors from Germany and the U.S.A, analysed how blood cells, blood chemistry, and urine chemistry changed during treatment, to check whether dupilumab is safe to use without the need for regular laboratory tests. After performing many routine laboratory tests on patients' blood and urine, they found that there were no clinically important changes in test results that could be linked to dupilumab. They concluded that patients using dupilumab for moderate-to-severe AD do not need routine laboratory testing. This is a summary of the study: Laboratory safety of dupilumab in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: results from three phase III trials (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1, LIBERTY AD SOLO 2, LIBERTY AD CHRONOS).

Laboratory safety of dupilumab in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: results from three phase III trials (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1, LIBERTY AD SOLO 2, LIBERTY AD CHRONOS).

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab [a monoclonal antibody blocking the shared receptor subunit for interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13] is approved for patients aged ≥ 12 years with inadequately controlled, moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab trials of up to 52 weeks demonstrated efficacy and a favourable safety profile in patients with moderate-to-severe AD inadequately controlled with topical medications. OBJECTIVES: To further characterize the safety of dupilumab by evaluating clinical laboratory findings from three randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled phase III trials (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 & 2 and LIBERTY AD CHRONOS). METHODS: Patients were randomized 1 : 1 : 1 (SOLO 1 & 2) or 3 : 1 : 3 (CHRONOS) for 16 and 52 weeks, respectively, to dupilumab weekly, every 2 weeks or placebo. CHRONOS patients received a standardized concomitant topical corticosteroid regimen. Laboratory outcomes were summarized descriptively in 1376 patients from SOLO 1 & 2 and 740 from CHRONOS. RESULTS: Treatment groups had similar results in baseline laboratory parameters. Platelets and neutrophils showed mild decreases from baseline in dupilumab vs. placebo groups. Some dupilumab-treated patients had small transient increases in eosinophils. Grade 3 eosinophilia was reported in < 1% of dupilumab-treated and placebo-treated patients; no adverse events were associated with eosinophilia. Lactate dehydrogenase levels decreased from baseline during dupilumab treatment in all trials. No clinically meaningful changes were observed between treatment groups in other haematology, chemistry or urinalysis parameters. CONCLUSIONS: There were no clinically important changes in routine laboratory parameters that could be attributed to dupilumab. This study supports the use of dupilumab as a systemic treatment for moderate-to-severe AD that does not require laboratory monitoring. What's already known about this topic? Long-term treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) with conventional immunosuppressive agents is limited by the risk of significant side-effects and a need for repeated tests to monitor haematological and/or organ (e.g. liver, kidney) toxicities. Dupilumab [a monoclonal antibody blocking the shared receptor subunit for interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13] is approved for the treatment of patients with inadequately controlled, moderate-to-severe AD. In 16-week and 52-week studies, dupilumab demonstrated a positive risk/benefit profile in moderate-to-severe AD. What does this study add? This study is the first comprehensive analysis of dupilumab laboratory safety data of the 16-week SOLO 1 & 2 (pooled N = 1376) and 52-week CHRONOS (N = 740) trials, demonstrating an absence of clinically important changes in haematology, serum chemistry and urinalysis parameters in patients with moderate-to-severe AD treated with dupilumab. Our data support the use of dupilumab as a systemic treatment for the long-term management of moderate-to-severe AD without routine laboratory monitoring in clinical practice.

Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in Japanese adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a subanalysis of three clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab, a human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor unit for interleukin-4 and interleukin-13. International phase II and III studies have evaluated the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD), but the effects of dupilumab in Japanese patients have not been reported. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe AD. METHODS: We analysed the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in the Japanese cohorts of a 16-week, phase IIb dose-finding trial (AD-1021; NCT01859988); a 16-week, phase III, placebo-controlled monotherapy trial (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1; NCT02277743) and a 52-week, phase III, placebo-controlled study of dupilumab with topical corticosteroids (LIBERTY AD CHRONOS; NCT02260986). RESULTS: Twenty-seven, 106 and 117 Japanese patients were enrolled in AD-1021, SOLO 1 and CHRONOS, respectively. Baseline disease severity was numerically higher in the Japanese cohort than in the overall study population. Generally, dupilumab significantly improved signs and symptoms of AD, including pruritus and patient quality of life, compared with placebo in the Japanese cohort, consistent with the overall study population. The combined safety profile of dupilumab in the Japanese cohort was similar to that in the total study populations; dupilumab was associated with an increased incidence of injection-site reactions and conjunctivitis compared with placebo. Dupilumab was associated with rapid reduction in thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and gradual IgE reductions. CONCLUSIONS: Dupilumab alone or with topical corticosteroids improved signs and symptoms of AD, had an acceptable safety profile, and suppressed biomarkers of type 2 inflammation compared with placebo in Japanese adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD. What's already known about this topic? Differences in atopic dermatitis (AD) pathology have been reported between Asian and Western populations, in which distinct helper T-cell activation profiles have been observed. International clinical studies in adults with moderate-to-severe AD have evaluated the efficacy and safety of dupilumab, which blocks interleukin-4 and interleukin-13, key molecules in type 2 inflammation. The effects of dupilumab in Japanese patients specifically have not yet been reported. What does this study add? Dupilumab alone or with topical corticosteroids improved signs and symptoms of AD and had an acceptable safety profile compared with placebo in Japanese patients with moderate-to-severe AD. The effects were comparable with those observed in the overall study population. Reported immunological differences in AD pathology in Asian patients may be secondary to type 2 immune activation.

Dupilumab in adolescents with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: results from a phase IIa open-label trial and subsequent phase III open-label extension.

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab (monoclonal antibody inhibiting IL-4/IL-13 signalling) is approved for use in adolescents aged ≥ 12 years with inadequately controlled moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab significantly improved AD signs/symptoms in a 16-week, randomised, placebo-controlled phase III trial in adolescents (NCT03054428). OBJECTIVES: To characterize the pharmacokinetics of dupilumab, and long-term safety and efficacy in adolescents. METHODS: This was a global, multicentre, phase IIa, open-label, ascending-dose, sequential cohort study with a phase III open-label extension (OLE) in adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD. In the phase IIa study, patients received one dupilumab dose (2 mg kg-1 or 4 mg kg-1 ) and 8 weeks of pharmacokinetic sampling. Thereafter, patients received the same dose weekly for 4 weeks, with 8-week safety follow-up. Patients then enrolled in the OLE, continuing 2 mg kg-1 or 4 mg kg-1 dupilumab weekly. Primary end points were dupilumab concentration-time profile and incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Secondary outcomes included Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI). RESULTS: Forty adolescents received dupilumab in the phase IIa study; 36 enrolled in the OLE. Dupilumab showed nonlinear, target-mediated pharmacokinetics. Mean ± SD trough dupilumab concentrations in serum at week 48 (OLE) were 74 ± 19 mg L-1 and 161 ± 60 mg L-1 for 2 mg kg-1 and 4 mg kg-1 , respectively. Dupilumab was well tolerated over 52 weeks; the most common TEAEs were nasopharyngitis (week 52: 41% [2 mg kg-1 ], 47% [4 mg kg-1 ]) and AD exacerbation (29%, 42%). After one dupilumab dose in the phase IIa study, EASI improved from baseline to week 2 [mean ± SD reduction -34% ± 20% (2 mg kg-1 ) and -51% ± 29% (4 mg kg-1 )]. With continuing treatment, EASI scores improved further [week 52: -85% ± 12% (2 mg kg-1 ) and -84% ± 20% (4 mg kg-1 )]. CONCLUSIONS: In adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD, dupilumab's pharmacokinetic profile was similar to that in adults. These 52-week safety and efficacy data support long-term use of dupilumab in this patient population. What's already known about this topic? Adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) have high unmet medical need, with significant disease burden and limited treatment options. Dupilumab (monoclonal antibody against interleukin-4 receptor α) is approved for the treatment of adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD who are inadequately responsive to standard of care (U.S.A.) or candidates for systemic therapy (European Union). A 16-week, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III trial in adolescents demonstrated significant improvements in AD signs/symptoms with an acceptable safety profile. What does this study add? These studies demonstrate the long-term safety and efficacy of dupilumab in adolescents with moderate-to-severe AD for up to 52 weeks of treatment, thus extending and reinforcing the findings from the 16-week dupilumab phase III trial. The data from these studies also support the use of dupilumab in combination with current standard of care (topical corticosteroids), which was not evaluated in the 16-week phase III monotherapy trial.

Conjunctivitis in dupilumab clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Dupilumab blocks the shared receptor component for interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13. It is approved in the U.S.A. for patients aged ≥ 12 years with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) uncontrolled by topical prescription medicines or who cannot use topical medicines, for patients in Japan whose AD is uncontrolled with existing therapies, for patients with moderate-to-severe AD in Europe who are candidates for systemic therapy and for patients aged ≥ 12 years for maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe asthma uncontrolled with their current medicines. AD trials have reported increased incidence of conjunctivitis for dupilumab vs. placebo. OBJECTIVES: To characterize further the occurrence and risk factors of conjunctivitis in dupilumab clinical trials. METHODS: We evaluated randomized placebo-controlled trials of dupilumab in AD (n = 2629), asthma (n = 2876), chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) (n = 60) and eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) (n = 47). RESULTS: In most AD trials, dupilumab-treated patients had higher conjunctivitis incidence than placebo controls. Higher baseline AD severity and previous history of conjunctivitis were associated with increased conjunctivitis incidence. Conjunctivitis was mostly mild to moderate. Most cases recovered or resolved during the treatment period; two patients permanently discontinued dupilumab due to conjunctivitis or keratitis. Common treatments included ophthalmic corticosteroids, antibiotics, and antihistamines or mast cell stabilizers. Most cases were diagnosed by the investigators. In asthma and CRSwNP trials, the incidence of conjunctivitis was lower for both dupilumab and placebo than in AD trials; dupilumab did not increase the incidence compared with placebo. In the EoE trial, no patients had conjunctivitis. CONCLUSIONS: Conjunctivitis was more frequent with dupilumab treatment in most AD trials. In dupilumab trials in other type 2 diseases, incidence of conjunctivitis was overall very low, and was similar for dupilumab and placebo. In AD, the incidence of conjunctivitis was associated with AD severity and prior history of conjunctivitis. The aetiology and treatment of conjunctivitis in dupilumab-treated patients require further study. What's already known about this topic? Ocular disorders, including allergic conjunctivitis, are common in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD). In most dupilumab AD trials, dupilumab-treated patients had higher conjunctivitis incidence than those receiving placebo. Most cases were mild to moderate and recovered or were recovering during study treatment; study treatment discontinuation due to conjunctivitis was rare. Conjunctivitis incidence was very low and similar for dupilumab and placebo in clinical trials in asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and eosinophilic oesophagitis. What does this study add? This analysis confirms and extends the results of the individual clinical trials. Baseline disease-related factors, including AD severity, prior conjunctivitis history and certain biomarkers (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, IgE, eosinophils), were associated with increased incidence of conjunctivitis. Patients who responded well to dupilumab had reduced incidence of conjunctivitis. Further study is needed to elucidate the aetiology and treatment of conjunctivitis in dupilumab-treated patients with AD.

Dupilumab provides important clinical benefits to patients with atopic dermatitis who do not achieve clear or almost clear skin according to the Investigator's Global Assessment: a pooled analysis of data from two phase III trials.

BACKGROUND: In the U.S.A., an Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score of ≤ 1 (clear or almost clear skin) has been the standard measure in regulatory outcomes for registration clinical trials in atopic dermatitis (AD), including those supporting the recent approval of dupilumab. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the treatment effect of dupilumab in patients with IGA > 1 at the end of treatment, using other validated outcome measures for AD signs, symptoms and quality of life. METHODS: LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 and 2 were two 16-week, randomized, double-blind trials enrolling adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD (IGA ≥ 3) inadequately controlled with topical treatment. We performed a post hoc analysis in patients receiving dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks (q2w) or placebo. Outcome measures in patients with IGA > 1 included Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI), pruritus numerical rating scale (NRS), affected body surface area (BSA), Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The trials were registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02277743 and NCT02277769. RESULTS: At week 16, 278 of 449 dupilumab q2w-treated patients (median age 36·0 years) and 396 of 443 placebo-treated patients had IGA > 1. Among patients with IGA > 1 at week 16, dupilumab significantly improved several outcome measures compared with placebo: EASI (-48·9% vs. -11·3%, P < 0·001), pruritus NRS (-35·2% vs. -9·1%, P < 0·001), affected BSA (-23·1% vs. -4·5%, P < 0·001), POEM score ≥ 4-point improvement (57·4% vs. 21·0%, P < 0·001) and DLQI score ≥ 4-point improvement (59·3% vs. 24·4%, P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with IGA > 1 at week 16, dupilumab induced statistically significant benefits in multiple validated outcome measures compared with placebo. The IGA ≤ 1 end point significantly underestimates clinically relevant dupilumab treatment effects.

Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale: psychometric validation and responder definition for assessing itch in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic disease characterized by intense, persistent and debilitating itch, resulting in sleep deprivation, signs of anxiety and depression, impaired quality of life and reduced productivity. The Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) was developed and validated as a single-item, patient-reported outcome (PRO) of itch severity. OBJECTIVES: To describe the content validity and psychometric assessment (test-retest reliability, construct validity, known-groups validity, sensitivity to change) of the Peak Pruritus NRS, and to derive empirically a responder definition to identify adults with a meaningful change in itch. METHODS: Content validity was assessed through in-depth patient interviews. Psychometric assessments used data from phase IIb and phase III dupilumab clinical trials and included test-retest reliability, construct validity, known-groups validity and sensitivity to change in patients with moderate-to-severe AD. RESULTS: Interview participants indicated that the Peak Pruritus NRS was a relevant, clear and comprehensive assessment of itch severity. Peak Pruritus NRS scores showed large, positive correlations with existing PRO measures of itch, and weak or moderate correlations with clinician-reported measures assessing objective signs of AD. Peak Pruritus NRS score improvements were highly correlated with improvements in other itch PROs, and moderately correlated with improvements in clinician-reported measures assessing objective signs of AD. The most appropriate threshold for defining a clinically relevant, within-person response was ≥ 2-4-point change in the Peak Pruritus NRS. CONCLUSIONS: The Peak Pruritus NRS is a well-defined, reliable, sensitive and valid scale for evaluating worst itch intensity in adults with moderate-to-severe AD.

Report from the fifth international consensus meeting to harmonize core outcome measures for atopic eczema/dermatitis clinical trials (HOME initiative).

This is the report from the fifth meeting of the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema initiative (HOME V). The meeting was held on 12-14 June 2017 in Nantes, France, with 81 participants. The main aims of the meeting were (i) to achieve consensus over the definition of the core domain of long-term control and how to measure it and (ii) to prioritize future areas of research for the measurement of the core domain of quality of life (QoL) in children. Moderated whole-group and small-group consensus discussions were informed by presentations of qualitative studies, systematic reviews and validation studies. Small-group allocations were performed a priori to ensure that each group included different stakeholders from a variety of geographical regions. Anonymous whole-group voting was carried out using handheld electronic voting pads according to predefined consensus rules. It was agreed by consensus that the long-term control domain should include signs, symptoms, quality of life and a patient global instrument. The group agreed that itch intensity should be measured when assessing long-term control of eczema in addition to the frequency of itch captured by the symptoms domain. There was no recommendation of an instrument for the core outcome domain of quality of life in children, but existing instruments were assessed for face validity and feasibility, and future work that will facilitate the recommendation of an instrument was agreed upon.

Exploratory Population PK Analysis of Dupilumab, a Fully Human Monoclonal Antibody Against IL-4Rα, in Atopic Dermatitis Patients and Normal Volunteers.

An exploratory population pharmacokinetic model for functional dupilumab was developed. Data from healthy volunteers and patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) receiving intravenous or subcutaneous doses were integrated. The data included 197 participants (2,518 measurements of dupilumab in serum) from six phase I and II studies. The data were analyzed using stochastic approximation expectation-maximization and importance sampling methods. The best structural model was a two-compartment model with parallel linear and Michaelis-Menten elimination from the central compartment. Estimated parameters were: central volume 2.74 L, elimination rate 0.0459 d-1 , central-to-peripheral rate 0.0652 d-1 , peripheral-to-central rate 0.129 d-1 , bioavailability 60.7%, maximal target-mediated elimination rate 0.968 mg/L/d, and Michaelis-Menten constant 0.01 mg/L. Body weight was a significant covariate of the central volume. No gender effect was observed when controlling for weight. No differences between healthy volunteers and patients with AD were found. The model adequately described dupilumab pharmacokinetics for intravenous and subcutaneous routes of administration.

Report from the fourth international consensus meeting to harmonize core outcome measures for atopic eczema/dermatitis clinical trials (HOME initiative).

This article is a report of the fourth meeting of the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative held in Malmö, Sweden on 23-24 April 2015 (HOME IV). The aim of the meeting was to achieve consensus over the preferred outcome instruments for measuring patient-reported symptoms and quality of life for the HOME core outcome set for atopic eczema (AE). Following presentations, which included data from systematic reviews, consensus discussions were held in a mixture of whole group and small group discussions. Small groups were allocated a priori to ensure representation of different stakeholders and countries. Decisions were voted on using electronic keypads. For the patient-reported symptoms, the group agreed by vote that itch, sleep loss, dryness, redness/inflamed skin and irritated skin were all considered essential aspects of AE symptoms. Many instruments for capturing patient-reported symptoms were discussed [including the Patient-Oriented SCOring Atopic Dermatitis index, Patient-Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM), Self-Administered Eczema Area and Severity Index, Itch Severity Scale, Atopic Dermatitis Quickscore and the Nottingham Eczema Severity Score] and, by consensus, POEM was selected as the preferred instrument to measure patient-reported symptoms. Further work is needed to determine the reliability and measurement error of POEM. Further work is also required to establish the importance of pain/soreness and the importance of collecting information regarding the intensity of symptoms in addition to their frequency. Much of the discussion on quality of life concerned the Dermatology Life Quality Index and Quality of Life Index for Atopic Dermatitis; however, consensus on a preferred instrument for measuring this domain could not be reached. In summary, POEM is recommended as the HOME core outcome instrument for measuring AE symptoms.

Report from the third international consensus meeting to harmonise core outcome measures for atopic eczema/dermatitis clinical trials (HOME).

This report provides a summary of the third meeting of the Harmonising Outcome Measures for Eczema (HOME) initiative held in San Diego, CA, U.S.A., 6-7 April 2013 (HOME III). The meeting addressed the four domains that had previously been agreed should be measured in every eczema clinical trial: clinical signs, patient-reported symptoms, long-term control and quality of life. Formal presentations and nominal group techniques were used at this working meeting, attended by 56 voting participants (31 of whom were dermatologists). Significant progress was made on the domain of clinical signs. Without reference to any named scales, it was agreed that the intensity and extent of erythema, excoriation, oedema/papulation and lichenification should be included in the core outcome measure for the scale to have content validity. The group then discussed a systematic review of all scales measuring the clinical signs of eczema and their measurement properties, followed by a consensus vote on which scale to recommend for inclusion in the core outcome set. Research into the remaining three domains was presented, followed by discussions. The symptoms group and quality of life groups need to systematically identify all available tools and rate the quality of the tools. A definition of long-term control is needed before progress can be made towards recommending a core outcome measure.