Is dupilumab an effective treatment for pediatric atopic dermatitis?

Dupilumab is a biologic medication that targets type 2 inflammation, a key driver of atopic dermatitis. For children with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis that is not well controlled with topical therapies, dupilumab offers a systemic treatment option. Clinical trials and network meta-analyses support its effectiveness in reducing skin symptoms and itch in pediatric patients, including those under 6 years old.

What the research says

A phase 3 trial in children aged 6 months to younger than 6 years found that dupilumab plus low-potency topical corticosteroids significantly improved skin clearance and reduced itch compared to placebo plus topical corticosteroids over 16 weeks ¹¹. In a network meta-analysis of 32 randomized controlled trials in children, dupilumab was ranked among the top treatments for reducing SCORAD (a measure of atopic dermatitis severity) and EASI (Eczema Area and Severity Index) scores ³. Another network meta-analysis of systemic treatments for atopic dermatitis, which included pediatric data, confirmed dupilumab's efficacy for moderate-to-severe disease ¹⁰. While some studies focus on adults, such as a head-to-head trial comparing upadacitinib and dupilumab in adults ⁹, and long-term data on tralokinumab in adults ⁵, the pediatric-specific evidence consistently supports dupilumab's effectiveness.

What to ask your doctor

• Is dupilumab appropriate for my child's age and severity of atopic dermatitis?
• What are the potential side effects of dupilumab in children, such as injection site reactions or eye inflammation?
• How does dupilumab compare to other systemic treatments like topical corticosteroids or other biologics for my child?
• How long does it typically take to see improvement in my child's skin symptoms after starting dupilumab?
• Will my child need to continue using topical treatments along with dupilumab?