Sanofi-Regeneron Dupixent data reinforce use in atopic dermatitis patients with skin of color

Andrew Alexis, MD, MPH, Professor of Clinical Dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine said, “Atopic dermatitis, a chronic disease with underlying type 2 inflammation, has a high prevalence and quality of life impact on patients with skin of color. Unique clinical features like darker patches of hyperpigmentation versus redness typically seen on lighter skin may lead to less accurate diagnoses and underestimation of disease severity. The results from the DISCOVER study showed that Dupixent patients with atopic dermatitis and darker skin not only experienced reduced disease severity and itch but also saw improvements in areas of particular concern including dyspigmentation and dry skin. These data deepen the clinical understanding of atopic dermatitis within this underserved population, including use of newly validated scales.”

In the study, 120 patients with atopic dermatitis and skin of color (82% Black, 11% Asian, 2% American Indian/Alaska Native, 5% Arab, Central American, or other) were treated with Dupixent every two weeks using a weight-based dosing regimen. At 24 weeks:

• 76% achieved a ≥75% improvement in overall disease severity (EASI-75), the primary endpoint. Improvements were seen by some patients as early as two weeks
• 53% achieved clinically meaningful improvement in itch (≥4-point reduction on the peak-pruritus numerical rating scale [PP-NRS]). Improvements were seen by some patients as early as two weeks
• Patients experienced a 53% reduction from baseline in post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, dropping from 5.1 points (moderate/marked) to 2.4 points (mild).
• 18% were very or extremely bothered by dry skin vs. 78% at baseline, based on patient reporting