As reported in Jama Network, Stanford University School of Medicine and colleagues reported that a nearly 25% of a segment of adults with atopic dermatitis who were taking dupilumab developed new regional dermatoses appearing mostly on the face. Gefei Alex Zhu, MD of Stanford reports, “new facial dermatitis while taking dupilumab is suspected to represent unrecognized (allergic contact dermatitis) for which the diagnostic utility of patch testing has been recently highlighted.”

The Stanford researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study from the Stanford Medicine Research Data Repository, data were obtained for all adults who received dupilumab for atopic dermatitis before November 1, 2018. 124 patients were identified, and 73 were included in the analysis reports.

Dupilumab, sold under the trade name Dupixent, is a monoclonal antibody designed for the treatment of allergic diseases such as eczema (atopic dermatitis). Side effects include allergic reactions, cold sores, and inflammation of the cornea. It was developed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi Genzyme. It received FDA approval for moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in 2017. As of 2017 it costs about 37,000 USD per year.

Lead Research/Investigator

Gefei Alex Zhu, MD