Key clinical point : In infants and young children with atopic dermatitis (AD), dupilumab treatment with concomitant low-potency topical corticosteroids (TCS) does not increase infection rates and is associated with a reduced risk for bacterial and non-herpetic skin infections.
Major finding: Patients receiving dupilumab vs placebo had similar total infection rates week 16 (rate ratio [RR] 0.75; P = .223) and a significantly lower frequency of non-herpetic skin infections (RR 0.46; P = .047) and bacterial infections (RR 0.09; P = .019).
Study details: This post hoc analysis of the phase 3 LIBERTY AD PRESCHOOL trial included 162 patients (age 6 months to 5 years) with moderate to severe AD who were randomly assigned to receive 200 or 300 mg dupilumab (n = 83) or placebo (n = 79) every 4 weeks with concomitant low-potency TCS.
Disclosures: This study was funded by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. Four authors declared being employees or shareholders of Sanofi or Regeneron. The remaining authors declared having ties with Sanofi, Regeneron, or others.
Source: Paller AS, Siegfried EC, Cork MJ, et al. Infections in children aged 6 months to 5 years treated with dupilumab in a placebo-controlled clinical trial of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Paediatr Drugs. 2024 (Jan 24). doi: 10.1007/s40272-023-00611-9 Source