Dupilumab in pediatric dermatology

Background Dupilumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor alpha subunit of the IL-4 and IL-13 receptor. This novel agent has received a license for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in patients aged >= 12 years. However, data on the dupilumab use in the pediatric population are still extremely limited. This report aims to summarize the existing data on the on- and off-label use of dupilumab for dermatologic conditions in children and adolescents. Materials and methods The current study is an overview of all the reported evidence on dupilumab for dermatologic conditions in the pediatric population. MEDLINE (PubMed), clinicaltrial.gov databases and SCOPUS were thoroughly scanned for related articles. Results A small number of clinical trials, case series and case reports, that indicate a satisfactory therapeutic outcome for dupilumab in pediatric patients for certain dermatologic conditions, is present in the literature. Conclusion More long-term studies in larger patient groups are necessary so as to be able to draw definite conclusions concerning the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in pediatric patients with skin diseases.