Real-World Dupilumab Persistence High in Patients With Atopic Dermatitis

More than three-quarters of adults with atopic dermatitis who initiated dupilumab remained on the treatment 12 months later, according to real-world findings published in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. 

“Persistence with dupilumab therapy was high,” researchers wrote, “and among the few patients who discontinued, more than three-quarters reinitiated treatment within 4 months.” 

Using the IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare database, researchers identified 1963 adults with atopic dermatitis who initiated dupilumab. The average age of participants was 42.1, and half had one or more atopic comorbidities.  

Over a 12-month baseline period, 81.6% of patients used topical corticosteroids; 72.5%, systemic corticosteroids; and 22.8%, systemic immunosuppressants for atopic dermatitis, researchers reported. Additionally, 45% of patients were prescribed pain medications; 14.9%, sleep medications; and 54.1% anxiolytics, antidepressants, or other psychotropic drugs.

Six months after initiating dupilumab, 91.9% of patients persisted with the treatment, according to the study. Dupilumab persistence at 12 months was 77.3%.  

Moreover, in patients who discontinued dupilumab, the study found a high rate of reinitiation. Researchers calculated a 78.8% reinitiation risk within an average 4 months.   

“When comparing with 12-month persistence with biologics used to treat psoriasis, the high level of persistence with dupilumab at 12 months suggests that dupilumab is well tolerated and that patients are satisfied with its effectiveness and frequency of administration for the management of their atopic dermatitis,” researchers concluded. 

“Additional studies are needed to confirm the real-world effectiveness of dupilumab through assessment of outcomes such as disease severity, health care resource use, and health-related quality of life, and to determine the reasons for the observed pattern of discontinuation and reinitiation.” 

—Jolynn Tumolo

Reference:

Silverberg JI, Guttman-Yassky E, Gadkari A, et al. Real-world persistence with dupilumab among adults with atopic dermatitis. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2021;126(1):40-45. doi:10.1016/j.anai.2020.07.026