Press Release: Dupixent positive phase 3 data in children one to 11 years of age with eosinophilic esophagitis published in NEJM
Dupixent positive phase 3 data in children one to 11 years of age with eosinophilic esophagitis published in NEJM
- Majority of patients in this age group with eosinophilic esophagitis receiving Dupixent achieved histologic remission, with improvements sustained up to one year
- Dupixent is the first-and-only medicine indicated for eosinophilic esophagitis in the US for this age group
Paris and Tarrytown, NY, June 26, 2024. The New England Journal of Medicine has published results from a positive phase 3 study of Dupixent (dupilumab) in children aged one to 11 years with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). The study showed a greater proportion of those receiving weight-tiered higher dose Dupixent experienced significant improvements in many key disease measures of EoE, compared to placebo at week 16. Data from the study were the basis for the US Food and Drug Administration Priority Review and approval of Dupixent in children aged one to 11 years with EoE weighing at least 15 kg, as well as for the regulatory submission that is currently under review by the European Medicines Agency for this age group.
EoE is a chronic, progressive disease associated with type-2 inflammation that is thought to be responsible for damaging the esophagus and impairing its function. Diagnosis is difficult, as symptoms can be mistaken for other conditions, and there are delays in diagnosis. EoE can severely impact a child’s ability to eat and may also cause abdominal pain, trouble swallowing, heartburn, vomiting and failure to thrive. Continuous management of EoE may be needed to reduce the risk of complications and disease progression.
Mirna Chehade, M.D., MPH
Mount Sinai Center for Eosinophilic Disorders, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, and principal investigator of the study
“The NEJM publication of these phase 3 dupilumab results is a testament to the importance of these data and potential for dupilumab to change the standard of care for many young children living with eosinophilic esophagitis. These children commonly experience feeding difficulties, food refusal and failure to thrive during a critical time of their growth and development. These data showed weight-tiered higher dose dupilumab significantly improved key eosinophilic esophagitis histologic, endoscopic, and cellular measures in children as young as 1 year old with sustained results for up to one year. These results reinforce the positive results seen in older patients with eosinophilic esophagitis and strengthen our understanding of IL4 and IL13 as key drivers of the type 2 inflammation underlying this disease.”
As published, a significantly greater proportion of children receiving either a weight-tiered higher or lower dose regimen of Dupixent achieved histologic remission at week 16 in part A of the study, compared with placebo. Additionally, those treated with higher dose Dupixent experienced significant improvements in disease severity assessed by endoscopic measures, with improvements sustained for up to one year. Those receiving lower dose Dupixent experienced improvements that were either comparable or numerically lower than the higher dose group. Dupixent also led to numerical improvement in body weight for age percentile by week 16 and sustained to one year, which was evaluated as an exploratory endpoint in part A and a secondary endpoint in part B.
Safety results were generally consistent with the known safety profile of Dupixent in adolescents and adults with EoE. Adverse events more commonly observed with Dupixent (≥10%) in either weight-based dosing regimen versus placebo in the study were COVID-19, nausea, injection site pain and headache during part A. The long-term safety profile of Dupixent in children aged one to 11 years through part B was similar to that observed during part A. In part B, one case of helminth infection was reported with Dupixent.
For patients in the US with EoE weighing at least 15 kg, the FDA-approved dosage for Dupixent is 200mg or 300mg every other week, or 300mg weekly, based on weight.
Dr. Mirna Chehade has served as a paid consultant for Sanofi and Regeneron and has received research grant funding from Regeneron.
About the Dupixent pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis study
The phase 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Dupixent in children aged one to 11 years with EoE. Part A enrolled 102 patients and evaluated Dupixent at a weight-tiered higher dose or lower dose regimen, compared to placebo for 16 weeks. Part B was a 36-week extended active treatment period in which eligible children from part A in the Dupixent group maintained their weight-tiered higher or lower dose level, while those in the placebo group switched to weight-tiered higher or lower dose Dupixent.
The primary endpoint was histologic remission at 16 weeks and secondary endpoints included assessments of endoscopic and histopathologic measures of the severity of disease along with clinical signs and symptoms of EoE. Change in body weight for age percentile was evaluated as an exploratory endpoint in part A and as a secondary endpoint in part B. The study is ongoing with a 108-week open-label extension period (part C) to evaluate longer-term outcomes.
About Dupixent
Dupixent (dupilumab) is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signaling of the interleukin-4 (IL4) and interleukin-13 (IL13) 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 studies, establishing that IL4 and IL13 are key and central drivers of the type 2 inflammation that plays a major role in multiple related and often co-morbid diseases.
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 polyposis, eosinophilic esophagitis, prurigo nodularis and chronic spontaneous urticaria in different age populations. More than 850,000 patients are being treated with Dupixent globally.
Dupilumab Development Program
Dupilumab is being jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron under a global collaboration agreement. To date, dupilumab has been studied across more than 60 clinical studies involving more than 10,000 patients with various chronic diseases driven in part by type 2 inflammation.
In addition to the currently approved indications, Sanofi and Regeneron are studying dupilumab in a broad range of diseases driven by type 2 inflammation or other allergic processes in phase 3 studies, including chronic spontaneous urticaria, chronic pruritus of unknown origin, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with evidence of type 2 inflammation and bullous pemphigoid. These potential uses of dupilumab are currently under clinical investigation, and the safety and efficacy in these conditions have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.
About Regeneron
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents, develops and commercializes life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led by physician-scientists, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to numerous approved treatments and product candidates in development, most of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neurological diseases, hematologic conditions, infectious diseases, and rare diseases.
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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