INVESTORS & MEDIA
News Release
Dupixent® (dupilumab) Is the First and Only Biologic to Achieve Significant Improvements in Disease Remission and Symptoms in Bullous Pemphigoid (BP) Positive Pivotal Trial
Trial met the primary and all key secondary endpoints in adults with moderate-to-severe disease; five times more patients achieved sustained disease remission with Dupixent than placebo
Dupixent is the first medicine to show significant steroid-sparing effect in this debilitating and life-threatening disease
If approved, Dupixent would be the first and only targeted medicine to treat BP in the
BP, a chronic and relapsing disease, is characterized by intense itch and blisters, reddening of the skin and painful chronic lesions. The blisters and rash can form over much of the body and cause the skin to bleed and crust, resulting in patients being more prone to infection and affecting their daily functioning.
“Bullous pemphigoid is a debilitating skin disease with a high mortality rate due to infection. Dupixent is the first medication to show significant and robust impacts in this patient population,” said
In the ADEPT trial, 106 adults with moderate-to-severe BP were randomized to receive Dupixent 300 mg (n=53) every two weeks after an initial loading dose or placebo (n=53), along with standard-of-care OCS. During treatment, all patients underwent a protocol-defined OCS tapering regimen if control of disease activity was maintained.
For the primary endpoint, 20% of Dupixent patients experienced sustained disease remission at 36 weeks compared to 4% for placebo (p=0.0114). For the components comprising the primary endpoint – with patients having to achieve all components – efficacy among patients receiving Dupixent compared to placebo was as follows*:
- Absence of disease relapse after patient completed OCS taper: 59% vs. 16% (nominal p=0.0023)
- Absence of need for rescue therapy during treatment period: 42% vs. 12% (nominal p=0.0004)
- Achievement of complete remission and off OCS by week 16: 38% vs. 27% (not significant)
*Components were not separately included in pre-specified statistical analyses and are therefore nominal.
For selected secondary endpoints, results for Dupixent compared to placebo were statistically significant as follows:
- Patients achieving ≥90% reduction in disease severity: 41% vs. 10% (p=0.0003)
- Patients achieving clinically meaningful itch reduction: 40% vs. 11% (p=0.0006)
- Secondary endpoints assessing decreased OCS use, and time to use of rescue medications, also favored Dupixent and were significant (p=0.0220 and p=0.0016, respectively)
- Reduction in disease severity from baseline: 77% vs. 50% (p=0.0021)
- Reduction in itch from baseline: 52% vs. 27% (p=0.0021)
- Days of complete remission off OCS: 40 vs. 13 (p=0.0072)
In this older population, overall rates of adverse events (AEs) were 96% (n=51) for Dupixent and 96% (n=51) for placebo. AEs more commonly observed with Dupixent compared to placebo in more than 3 patients included peripheral edema (n=8 vs. n=5), arthralgia (n=5 vs. n=3), back pain (n=4 vs. n=2), blurred vision (n=4 vs. n=0), hypertension (n=4 vs. n=3), asthma (n=4 vs. n=1), conjunctivitis (n=4 vs. n=0), constipation (n=4 vs. n=1), upper respiratory tract infection (n=3 vs. n=1), limb injury (n=3 vs. n=2) and insomnia (n=3 vs. n=2). There were no AEs leading to death in the Dupixent group and 2 AEs leading to death in the placebo group.
“The itchy blisters caused by bullous pemphigoid can be so intense they are debilitating, especially for elderly patients. There is a significant unmet medical need for new medicines for people suffering with this hard-to-treat disease in which the standard of care is oral and topical corticosteroids and immunosuppressants – treatments that have poor clinical outcomes and safety concerns, respectively, and should be used sparingly in an elderly population,” said
Additionally, a small separate Phase 3 trial (Study A) evaluating the investigational use of Dupixent in adults with uncontrolled and severe chronic pruritus of unknown origin (CPUO) did not achieve statistical significance in its primary itch responder endpoint (despite favorable numerical improvements), but showed nominally significant improvements in all other itch endpoints, including: change from baseline; percent of patients achieving no/mild itch; and change in itch-related quality of life from baseline. Safety results were generally consistent with the known safety profile of Dupixent in its approved dermatological indications. The Dupixent Phase 3 program in CPUO consists of Study A and Study B. Study B is planned to initiate as a subsequent pivotal trial.
Detailed efficacy and safety results for both BP and CPUO trials are planned for presentation at a forthcoming medical meeting.
The safety and efficacy of Dupixent in BP and CPUO are currently under clinical investigation and have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
About the
ADEPT is a randomized, Phase 2/3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Dupixent in 106 adults with moderate-to-severe BP for a 52-week treatment period. After randomization, patients received Dupixent or placebo every two weeks, with OCS treatment. During treatment, OCS taper was initiated after patients experienced two weeks of sustained control of disease activity. OCS tapering could start between four to six weeks after randomization and was continued as long as disease control was maintained, with the intent of completion by 16 weeks. After OCS tapering, patients were only treated with Dupixent or placebo for at least 20 weeks, unless rescue treatment was required.
The primary endpoint evaluated the proportion of patients achieving sustained disease remission at 36 weeks. Sustained disease remission was defined as complete clinical remission with completion of OCS taper by 16 weeks without relapse and no rescue therapy use during the 36-week treatment period. Relapse was defined as appearance of ≥3 new lesions a month or ≥1 large lesion (>10 cm in diameter) that did not heal within a week. Rescue therapy could include treatment with high-potency topical corticosteroids, OCS (including increase of OCS dose during the taper or re-initiation of OCS after completion of the OCS taper), systemic non-steroidal immunosuppressive medications or immunomodulating biologics.
Select secondary endpoints evaluated at 36 weeks included:
- Proportion of patients achieving ≥90% reduction in Bullous Pemphigoid Disease Area Index (BPDAI; scale: 0-360)
- Proportion of patients with ≥4-point reduction in Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS; scale 0-10)
- Total cumulative OCS dose
- Time to first use of rescue medication
- Percent change from baseline in BPDAI
- Percent change in weekly average of daily PP-NRS
- Duration of complete remission while not requiring OCS
About the Dupixent CPUO Phase 3 Program
The Dupixent Phase 3 program in CPUO consists of Study A and Study B. Study A was a randomized, Phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Dupixent in adults with uncontrolled, severe CPUO. During the 4-week run-in period, patients received a standard-of-care regimen comprised of a non-sedative antihistamine and moisturizer to confirm they were refractory to available options. During the following 24-week treatment period, patients received Dupixent or placebo every two weeks added to the standard-of-care regimen.
The primary endpoint evaluated the proportion of patients with a clinically meaningful improvement in itch from baseline at 24 weeks, measured by a ≥4-point reduction in the worst-itch numerical rating scale (WI-NRS; scale: 0-10). The key secondary endpoint evaluated the proportion of patients with a ≥4-point reduction in WI-NRS at 12 weeks. Additional secondary endpoints included:
- Proportion of patients achieving no/mild pruritus on Patient Global Impression of Severity (PGIS) of pruritus
- Absolute change and percent change from baseline in the weekly average of daily itch-related sleep disturbances at 24 weeks measured by the sleep disturbance NRS (scale: 0-10)
- Absolute change from baseline in itch-related quality of life measured by the ItchyQoL (scale: 22-110)
- Absolute change from baseline in health-related quality of life at 24 weeks measured by the Dermatology Life Quality Index (scale: 0-30)
Study B is planned to initiate as a subsequent pivotal trial.
About Dupixent
Dupixent, which was invented using Regeneron’s proprietary VelocImmune® technology, is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signaling of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) pathways and is not an immunosuppressant. The Dupixent development program has shown significant clinical benefit and a decrease in type 2 inflammation in Phase 3 trials, establishing that IL-4 and IL-13 are key and central drivers of the type 2 inflammation that plays a major role in multiple related and often co-morbid diseases.
Dupixent has received regulatory approvals in more than 60 countries in one or more indications including certain patients with atopic dermatitis, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), prurigo nodularis, chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in different age populations. More than 1,000,000 patients are being treated with Dupixent globally.
About Regeneron’s VelocImmune Technology
Dupilumab Development Program
Dupilumab is being jointly developed by
In addition to the currently approved indications,
DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used:
- to treat adults and children 6 months of age and older with moderate-to-severe eczema (atopic dermatitis or AD) that is not well controlled with prescription therapies used on the skin (topical), or who cannot use topical therapies. DUPIXENT can be used with or without topical corticosteroids. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with atopic dermatitis under 6 months of age.
- with other asthma medicines for the maintenance treatment of moderate-to-severe eosinophilic or oral steroid dependent asthma in adults and children 6 years of age and older whose asthma is not controlled with their current asthma medicines. DUPIXENT helps prevent severe asthma attacks (exacerbations) and can improve your breathing. DUPIXENT may also help reduce the amount of oral corticosteroids you need while preventing severe asthma attacks and improving your breathing. DUPIXENT is not used to treat sudden breathing problems. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with asthma under 6 years of age.
- with other medicines for the maintenance treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) in adults whose disease is not controlled. It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis under 18 years of age.
- to treat adults and children 1 year of age and older with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), who weigh at least 33 pounds (15 kg). It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with eosinophilic esophagitis under 1 year of age, or who weigh less than 33 pounds (15 kg).
- to treat adults with prurigo nodularis (PN). It is not known if DUPIXENT is safe and effective in children with prurigo nodularis under 18 years of age.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use if you are allergic to dupilumab or to any of the ingredients in DUPIXENT®.
Before using DUPIXENT, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have eye problems.
- have a parasitic (helminth) infection.
- are scheduled to receive any vaccinations. You should not receive a “live vaccine” right before and during treatment with DUPIXENT.
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether DUPIXENT will harm your unborn baby.
- A pregnancy registry for women who take DUPIXENT during pregnancy collects information about the health of you and your baby. To enroll or get more information call 1-877-311-8972 or go to https://mothertobaby.org/ongoing-study/dupixent/.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known whether DUPIXENT passes into your breast milk.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the- counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you are taking oral, topical, or inhaled corticosteroid medicines; have asthma and use an asthma medicine; or have atopic dermatitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, eosinophilic esophagitis, or prurigo nodularis and also have asthma. Do not change or stop your corticosteroid medicine or other asthma medicine without talking to your healthcare provider. This may cause other symptoms that were controlled by the corticosteroid medicine or other asthma medicine to come back.
DUPIXENT can cause serious side effects, including:
- Allergic reactions. DUPIXENT can cause allergic reactions that can sometimes be severe. Stop using DUPIXENT and tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms: breathing problems or wheezing, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat, fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded, fast pulse, fever, hives, joint pain, general ill feeling, itching, skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, nausea or vomiting, or cramps in your stomach-area.
- Eye problems. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any new or worsening eye problems, including eye pain or changes in vision, such as blurred vision. Your healthcare provider may send you to an ophthalmologist for an exam if needed.
- Inflammation of your blood vessels. Rarely, this can happen in people with asthma who receive DUPIXENT. This may happen in people who also take a steroid medicine by mouth that is being stopped or the dose is being lowered. It is not known whether this is caused by DUPIXENT. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have: rash, chest pain, worsening shortness of breath, a feeling of pins and needles or numbness of your arms or legs, or persistent fever.
- Joint aches and pain. Some people who use DUPIXENT have had trouble walking or moving due to their joint symptoms, and in some cases needed to be hospitalized. Tell your healthcare provider about any new or worsening joint symptoms. Your healthcare provider may stop DUPIXENT if you develop joint symptoms.
The most common side effects include:
- Eczema: injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, sometimes with blurred vision, dry eye, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia).
- Asthma: injection site reactions, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), pain in the throat (oropharyngeal pain), and parasitic (helminth) infections.
- Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis: injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, sometimes with blurred vision, high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia), gastritis, joint pain (arthralgia), trouble sleeping (insomnia), and toothache.
- Eosinophilic Esophagitis: injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and joint pain (arthralgia).
- Prurigo Nodularis: eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, sometimes with blurred vision, herpes virus infections, common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis), dizziness, muscle pain, and diarrhea.
Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
These are not all the possible side effects of DUPIXENT. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Use DUPIXENT exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider. It’s an injection given under the skin (subcutaneous injection). Your healthcare provider will decide if you or your caregiver can inject DUPIXENT. Do not try to prepare and inject DUPIXENT until you or your caregiver have been trained by your healthcare provider. In children 12 years of age and older, it’s recommended DUPIXENT be administered by or under supervision of an adult. In children 6 months to less than 12 years of age, DUPIXENT should be given by a caregiver.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.
About
Regeneron pushes the boundaries of scientific discovery and accelerates drug development using our proprietary technologies, such as VelociSuite®, which produces optimized fully human antibodies and new classes of bispecific antibodies. We are shaping the next frontier of medicine with data-powered insights from the Regeneron Genetics Center® and pioneering genetic medicine platforms, enabling us to identify innovative targets and complementary approaches to potentially treat or cure diseases.
For more information, please visit www.Regeneron.com or follow
About
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