Dupilumab to Treat Type 2 Inflammatory Diseases in Children and Adolescents

Paediatr Drugs. 2020 Jun;22(3):295-310. doi: 10.1007/s40272-020-00387-2.

Abstract

During the past decade, significant therapeutic progress has been made in the field of allergic diseases, mainly concerning the pathogenic role of type 2 inflammation. Biologics targeting specific key cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and IL-13, as well as IgE, have emerged as promising innovative therapies for allergic disorders. In this context, dupilumab has emerged as one of the most successful therapies targeting the IL-4R axis. Dupilumab is a human IgG4 antibody anti-IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) α-subunit that blocks IL-4R signaling induced by both IL-4 and IL-13, downregulating the molecular pathways that drive type 2 inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, and eosinophilic esophagitis. This review presents the most recent evidence on dupilumab for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory diseases and discusses the future perspective, focusing on the pediatric age group and adolescents.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / pharmacology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use*
  • Asthma / drug therapy*
  • Child
  • Chronic Disease
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Rhinitis, Allergic / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • dupilumab