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Efficacy and safety of dupilumab monotherapy in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: a pooled analysis of two phase 3 randomized trials (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 and LIBERTY AD SOLO 2)
Corresponding author at: Comprehensive Center for Inflammation Medicine, University Medical School Schleswig-Holstein Campus, Lübeck Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Lübeck, Germany.
In this pooled analysis dupilumab significantly improved signs and symptoms of AD.
•
Dupilumab treatment alleviated pain/discomfort on the EuroQoL-5D.
•
Patient distribution within responder categories improved over time with dupilumab.
•
No new safety signals were observed with dupilumab.
•
Dupilumab had an overall favorable benefit-risk profile.
Abstract
Background
Two phase 3 trials with identical design, LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 (NCT02277743) and LIBERTY AD SOLO 2 (NCT02277769), confirmed dupilumab efficacy and safety versus placebo in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD).
Objectives
To report a pooled analysis of these trials to further explore dupilumab’s effects on AD clinical parameters, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), symptoms of anxiety/depression, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and safety.
Methods
A pooled analysis of two 16-week phase 3 studies in adults with moderate-to-severe AD (N = 1379) inadequately controlled with/inadvisable for topical medications, randomized to dupilumab 300 mg once weekly (qw), every 2 weeks (q2w), or placebo.
Results
Dupilumab significantly improved all pre-specified efficacy endpoints versus placebo (P < 0.0001), including clinical severity outcomes and PROs, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and HRQoL, consistent with previously published results. In post-hoc analyses, among patients reporting at least some baseline pain/discomfort on the EuroQoL-5D, no pain/discomfort at Week 16 was reported by 43%/46%/14% of dupilumab qw/q2w/placebo-treated patients (P < 0.0001). The distribution of dupilumab-treated patients within pre-defined score categories on the Investigator’s Global Assessment (0–1/2/3/4) and Eczema Area and Severity Index (≥90%/≥75–<90%/≥50–<75%/<50%) steadily and consistently improved over time versus marginal changes with placebo. Dupilumab significantly improved pruritus within 1–3 days of treatment initiation. No new safety signals were observed. Injection-site reactions and conjunctivitis were more common with dupilumab; AD exacerbation and non-herpetic skin infections more frequent with placebo.
Conclusions
Dupilumab versus placebo significantly improved objective AD signs, subjective PROs, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and HRQoL, with a favorable benefit-risk profile in adults with moderate-to-severe AD.
], and is frequently associated with other type 2 (atopic/allergic) comorbidities, e.g. asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), eosinophilic esophagitis, and food allergies [
]. There is a large unmet need for effective and safe treatments for moderate-to-severe AD, because topical therapies have limited efficacy and systemic immunotherapies are discouraged for long-term use, due to substantial side effects [
Dupilumab is the first targeted biologic agent approved in the United States of America for subcutaneous administration every 2 weeks (q2w) for the treatment of patients aged ≥12 years with moderate-to-severe AD inadequately controlled with topical prescription therapies or when those therapies are not advisable, for the treatment of adult AD patients not adequately controlled with existing therapies in Japan, and for use in adults with moderate-to-severe AD who are candidates for systemic therapy in the European Union. Dupilumab is a fully human VelocImmune-derived® monoclonal antibody [
] that blocks the shared receptor subunit for interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13, thus inhibiting signaling of both IL-4 and IL-13, cytokines that are key drivers of type 2 diseases [
Administered as monotherapy or with concomitant topical corticosteroids (TCS) in early-phase and phase 3 studies, dupilumab improved signs and symptoms of AD with an acceptable safety profile in adults with moderate-to-severe AD [
Dupilumab therapy provides clinically meaningful improvement in patient-reported outcomes (PROs): a phase IIb, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD).
Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis inadequately controlled by topical treatments: a randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging phase 2b trial.
Long-term management of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with dupilumab and concomitant topical corticosteroids (LIBERTY AD CHRONOS): a 1-year, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.
Dupilumab with concomitant topical corticosteroid treatment in adults with atopic dermatitis with an inadequate response or intolerance to ciclosporin A or when this treatment is medically inadvisable: a placebo-controlled, randomized phase III clinical trial (LIBERTY AD CAFÉ.
]. Two parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 16-week pivotal phase 3 trials with identical design, LIBERTY AD SOLO 1 and LIBERTY AD SOLO 2, confirmed the efficacy and safety of dupilumab monotherapy in adults with moderate-to-severe AD inadequately controlled by topical medications or for whom their use was inappropriate [
The objective of this analysis was to pool data from the SOLO 1 and SOLO 2 trials to further explore dupilumab’s effects on AD clinical parameters and symptoms, including patient-reported pain and discomfort, and to obtain more precise estimates of safety outcomes, findings that are particularly useful for subset and subdomain analyses.
This was a pooled analysis of two phase 3, randomized, multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 16-week trials of dupilumab in adults with moderate-to-severe AD (LIBERTY AD SOLO 1: R668-AD-1334, NCT02277743 and LIBERTY AD SOLO 2: R668-AD-1416, NCT02277769). The studies had identical design but were conducted independently, in parallel, at approximately 160 study sites in North America, Europe, and Asia. Patients were enrolled from October 2014 to July 2015 in SOLO 1, and from December 2014 to June 2015 in SOLO 2 [
]. A 35-day screening and washout period preceded study drug administration. Both studies were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, International Conference on Harmonisation guidelines, good clinical practice, and applicable regulatory requirements. All patients provided written informed consent prior to participation.
2.2 Patients
Patients were adults (age ≥18 years) with moderate-to-severe AD inadequately controlled by topical medications or for whom topical treatment was medically inadvisable. Key inclusion criteria included chronic AD diagnosed ≥3 years before screening; Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score ≥16, Investigator's Global Assessment (IGA) score ≥3, and AD involvement in ≥10% of body surface area (BSA) at screening and baseline; pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) average score for maximum itch intensity ≥3 at baseline; and documented recent history (within 6 months before screening) of inadequate response to treatment with topical medications or for whom topical treatments are otherwise medically inadvisable.
2.3 Treatment
Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive subcutaneous dupilumab 300 mg once weekly (qw) or q2w, with alternating q2w placebo or placebo qw using a central interactive response system. Randomization was stratified according to disease severity (IGA 3 versus 4) and region. A washout period (up to 7 days for topical treatments and 28 days for systemic AD drugs) preceded study drug administration. A 600 mg loading dose of dupilumab was administered on Day 1 to patients in the active treatment groups. Patients in the placebo group received placebo on Day 1 to match the dupilumab loading dose.
To maintain blinding, coded kits containing dupilumab or placebo were used to mask treatments assigned. Patients who received dupilumab q2w were given matching placebo at alternating weeks to preserve blinding. Concomitant use of medications for conditions other than AD was permitted. Prohibited medications included TCS or calcineurin inhibitors and systemic corticosteroids or nonsteroidal systemic immunosuppressive drugs (including cyclosporine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, or azathioprine), which could be administered during the study only as rescue medications. Rescue treatment for AD could be provided if medically necessary (i.e. to control intolerable symptoms of AD). Topical rescue treatment was administered with study treatment, but if the rescue treatment was systemic, study treatment was discontinued.
2.4 Study endpoints
Analysis of study endpoints was performed according to a pre-specified hierarchy. A full list of study endpoints and endpoint descriptions have been published [
In addition to the pre-specified endpoints, the following post-hoc analyses are reported:
-
Percentage change from baseline in daily Peak Pruritus NRS score
-
Proportion of patients with ≥3-point improvement (reduction) in daily Peak Pruritus NRS score
-
Proportion of patients with ≥4-point improvement (reduction) in daily Peak Pruritus NRS score
-
Proportion of patients who reported no pain/discomfort at Week 16 among patients who reported at least some pain/discomfort at baseline on the generic 5-dimension 3-level EuroQol (EQ-5D) [
Distribution of patients achieving an IGA score of 0 or 1, 2, 3, or 4 over time
-
Distribution of patients achieving <50%, ≥50 to <75%, or ≥75 to <90% improvement from baseline in EASI scores over time.
2.5 Safety
Safety was assessed by the overall incidence of adverse events and serious adverse events, the incidence of adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation, and the incidences of overall infections, non-herpetic skin infections, and herpes viral infections during the study.
2.6 Statistics
2.6.1 Analysis sets
Efficacy and safety data through Week 16 were pooled from the dupilumab 300 mg q2w, dupilumab 300 mg qw, and placebo groups in the two studies. Efficacy analyses were performed using the full analysis set, which included all randomized patients. Safety analyses were performed using the safety analysis set, which included all randomized patients who received at least one dose of any study drug.
2.6.2 Methods
The Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel (CMH) test adjusted by randomization strata (disease severity and region) was used for the primary and coprimary efficacy analyses and binary secondary outcomes. Patients who received rescue medication or who withdrew from the studies were considered nonresponders. The primary analysis of continuous endpoints used the multiple imputation procedure using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm and a regression model to generate a complete data set at each time point. Data sets were then analyzed using an analysis of covariance model with treatment, stratification factors (region and disease severity), and relevant baseline value included in the model. Data collected after use of rescue medication were treated as missing.
For binary outcomes using the CMH, three pre-specified sensitivity analyses were performed to handle missing data: (1) patients who received rescue treatment or withdrew from the study were considered nonresponders, and other missing values were imputed by last observation carried forward; (2) all observed data regardless of use of rescue medication, and patients with missing data were treated as nonresponders; and (3) all observed values regardless of rescue treatment, and no imputation of missing data was performed [
]. Pre-specified sensitivity analyses for continuous endpoints included (1) multiple imputation using all observed data regardless of rescue medication use, and (2) a mixed-effect repeated measures model, with data collected after use of rescue medication treated as missing [
Statistical analyses were performed using SAS software, version 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). For comparisons of each dupilumab dose with placebo according to the pre-specified hierarchical order, a significance level of 0.025 was used, which allowed control for the overall type I error rate at 0.05 for primary and secondary endpoints across dose regimens. All reported P values are two-sided. The statistical significance of differences in efficacy and safety between the qw and q2w dose groups was not investigated.
3. Results
3.1 Patients
The pooled analysis included 1379 randomized patients (placebo: n = 460; dupilumab q2w: n = 457; dupilumab qw: n = 462) (Fig. S1). Baseline demographics and characteristics were balanced between treatment groups (Table 1); patients had chronic AD (median disease duration of 26 years at baseline). Prior to enrollment, 32.9% of patients used systemic corticosteroids and 28.4% used systemic nonsteroidal immunosuppressants (Table S1).
Table 1Pooled baseline demographics and clinical characteristics by treatment group.
In the subset of patients with HADS-A or HADS-D ≥ 8 at baseline, representing the cut-off for identifying patients with anxiety or depression, respectively.
Patients after rescue treatment or withdrawal from the study were considered as nonresponders and other missing values were imputed by last observation carried forward.
BSA, body surface area; CI, confidence interval; DLQI, Dermatology Life Quality Index; EASI, Eczema Area and Severity Index; EASI-50, improvement from baseline of at least 50% in EASI; EASI-75, improvement from baseline of at least 75% in EASI; EASI-90, improvement from baseline of at least 90% in EASI; EQ-5D, 5-dimension 3-level EuroQoL; GISS, Global Individual Signs Score; HADS, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; HADS-A, HADS Anxiety; HADS-D, HADS Depression; IGA, Investigator’s Global Assessment; LS, least-squares; NRS, Numerical Rating Scale; POEM, Patient Oriented Eczema Measure; qw, once weekly; q2w, every 2 weeks; SCORAD, SCORing Atopic Dermatitis; SE, standard error.
Plus-minus values are means ± SE.
# P > 0.05.
* P < 0.05.
** P < 0.001.
*** P < 0.0001 versus placebo.
a Analysis performed for patients with baseline peak pruritus NRS ≥ 4.
b Analysis performed for patients with baseline peak pruritus NRS ≥ 3.
c In the subset of patients with DLQI ≥ 4 at baseline.
d In the subset of patients with POEM ≥ 4 at baseline.
e In the subset of patients with HADS-A or HADS-D ≥ 8 at baseline, representing the cut-off for identifying patients with anxiety or depression, respectively.
f Patients after rescue treatment or withdrawal from the study were considered as nonresponders and other missing values were imputed by last observation carried forward.
g In the subset of patients who reported at least some pain/discomfort on the EQ-5D at baseline.
A significant proportion of patients achieved an IGA score of 0 or 1 and a reduction of ≥2 points from baseline at Week 16 versus placebo (P < 0.0001; Tables 2, S2). In the pooled analysis, dupilumab significantly improved (versus placebo) outcomes of clinical severity, including proportions of patients reaching EASI-50, EASI-75, and EASI-90 from baseline through Week 16 (P < 0.0001; Tables 2, S2, Fig. S2a-c) and the percentage change from baseline at Week 16 in EASI score (Table 2; P < 0.0001).
Mean EASI scores (standard deviation [SD]) at baseline were similar in each treatment group (range: 32.4 [13.3]–34.0 [14.4]) but decreased over time to Week 16 in both dupilumab groups; reductions in the placebo group were smaller (mean EASI scores at Week 16 [SD]: 9.7 [10.6] and 9.2 [10.3] versus 21.6 [13.4] for dupilumab q2w and qw versus placebo, respectively; Fig. 1a). Dupilumab also significantly improved other measures of clinical severity, including percentage change from baseline to Week 16 in BSA, Global Individual Signs Score (GISS), and total SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) scores (all P < 0.0001; Table 2).
Fig. 1Mean scores on the EASI (scale 0–72) (a), Peak Pruritus NRS (scale 0–10) (b), DLQI (scale 0–30) (c), and POEM (scale 0–28) (d) over time in dupilumab- and placebo-treated patients. Censored analysis of continuous endpoints: Categorized patients who received rescue treatment as missing data from the time of rescue; missing data were imputed by multiple imputation. DLQI, Dermatology Life Quality Index; EASI, Eczema Area and Severity Index; NRS, Numerical Rating Scale; POEM, Patient Oriented Eczema Measure; qw, once weekly; q2w, every 2 weeks.
Dupilumab rapidly and significantly reduced patient-reported itch, versus placebo (P < 0.0001; Table 2, Fig. S3a), showing onset of action as early as Day 2, with clinically meaningful differences versus placebo as early as Day 3 (qw) or Day 4 (q2w) (post-hoc analyses; Table 2). Mean Peak Pruritus NRS scores (SD) at baseline were similar in each treatment group (range: 7.3 [1.9]–7.4 [1.8]) but decreased over time to Week 16 in both dupilumab groups; reductions in the placebo group were smaller (mean Peak Pruritus NRS scores [SD] at Week 16: 3.8 [2.2] and 3.6 [2.2] versus 5.6 [2.2] for q2w and qw versus placebo, respectively; Fig. 1b).
Dupilumab treatment versus placebo resulted in significant improvements in QoL and symptoms of anxiety/depression, as measured by change from baseline to Week 16 in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and total Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, respectively (P < 0.0001; Table 2, Fig. S3b). For patients who had symptoms of anxiety/depression (HADS-A or HADS-D scores ≥8) at baseline, a significantly greater proportion of those who received dupilumab (versus placebo) achieved HADS-A and HADS-D scores of <8 at Week 16 (P < 0.0001; Table 2). Significantly more patients receiving dupilumab than placebo achieved a ≥4-point improvement/reduction from baseline (the minimal clinically important difference [MCID]) in DLQI score at Week 16 (P < 0.0001; Table 2, Fig. S3c). Mean DLQI scores (SD) at baseline were similar in each treatment group (range: 14.7 [7.3]–15.1 [7.5]) but decreased over time to Week 16 in both dupilumab groups; reductions in the placebo group were smaller (mean DLQI scores [SD] at Week 16: 5.3 [5.3] and 5.6 [5.5] versus 10.5 [6.4]; dupilumab q2w and qw versus placebo, respectively; Fig. 1c).
Dupilumab (versus placebo) significantly reduced AD symptoms, including pruritus and its impact on sleep, as measured by change from baseline to Week 16 in Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) score (P < 0.0001; Table 2). Mean POEM scores (SD) at baseline were similar in each treatment group (range: 20.3 [6.0]–20.7 [5.9]) but decreased over time to Week 16 in both dupilumab groups; reductions in the placebo group were smaller (mean POEM scores [SD] at Week 16: 9.3 [6.3] and 9.2 [6.5] versus 16.0 [6.5] for dupilumab q2w and qw versus placebo, respectively; Fig. 1d). A significantly higher proportion of patients in both dupilumab groups than in the placebo group achieved a ≥4-point improvement/reduction (the MCID) from baseline at Week 16 in POEM score (P < 0.0001; Table 2, Fig. S3d).
3.4 Post-hoc analyses
A post-hoc analysis of the pooled data showed that the distribution of dupilumab-treated patients within the predefined IGA 0 or 1/2/3/4 categories shifted over time, whereas the distribution in the placebo group did not change as much (Figs. 2a, b, S4a). Similar results were observed for the predefined EASI categories (≥90%, ≥75–<90%, ≥50–<75%, and <50%), for which the distribution markedly changed from Weeks 4 to 16 in both dupilumab groups (Figs. 2c, S4b). In the placebo group, the distributions changed only marginally from Weeks 4 to 16 (Fig. 2d).
Fig. 2The distribution of patients within the predefined IGA categories (0 or 1, 2, 3, and 4) in the dupilumab q2w (a) and placebo groups (b), and within the predefined EASI categories ≥90%; 75–<90%; 50–<75%; and <50% in the dupilumab q2w (c) and placebo groups (d). EASI, Eczema Area and Severity Index; EASI-50/75/90, improvement from baseline of ≥50%/≥75%/≥90% in EASI score; IGA, Investigator's Global Assessment; qw, once weekly; q2w, every 2 weeks.
Patients reported a large disease burden, assessed on the EQ-5D dimension of pain/discomfort at baseline, as indicated by the substantial proportion of patients with ‘some/extreme’ pain/discomfort (Fig. 3). Of the patients who reported at least some pain/discomfort on the EQ-5D at baseline (placebo, n = 362; qw, n = 377; q2w, n = 370), 43%, 46%, and 14% in the dupilumab qw, q2w, and placebo groups reported no pain/discomfort at Week 16, respectively (P < 0.0001 versus placebo; Table 2).
Fig. 3Proportion of patients who reported pain/discomfort on the EQ-5D. Censored analysis for binary outcomes: Patients were categorized as nonresponders from the time rescue medication was used; missing data considered as nonresponder. EQ-5D, 5-dimension 3-level EuroQol; qw, once weekly; q2w, every 2 weeks.
Rescue medication was needed by a higher proportion of patients in the placebo versus dupilumab groups (Table S3). Placebo-treated patients were more likely to receive systemic corticosteroids and systemic nonsteroidal immunosuppressants than dupilumab-treated patients (Table S3) and received these medications earlier (Fig. S5). Overall, the treatment response (percentage changes in EASI and Peak Pruritus NRS scores) in dupilumab-treated patients was similar as found by the primary analysis and by analysis of all observed values regardless of rescue medication use (Figs. S6, S7). Sensitivity analyses outcomes were similar to those of the primary analysis (Table S2).
3.6 Safety
The overall incidence of adverse events was similar in the dupilumab and placebo groups in this pooled analysis (Table 3). Serious adverse events were more common (approximately two-fold) with placebo than with dupilumab (Tables 3, S4). The only serious adverse events reported in >2 patients in any treatment group were exacerbation of AD (2 and 1 patients in the q2w and qw dose groups, respectively, versus 8 patients in the placebo group) and suicidal ideation (0 patients in the dupilumab groups versus 3 patients in the placebo group) (Table S4). Adverse events and serious adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation were uncommon in all treatment groups (Tables 3, S5).
Table 3Adverse events.
Adverse event
Placebo (n = 456)
Dupilumab 300 mg q2w (n = 465)
Dupilumab 300 mg qw (n = 455)
Patients, n (%)
With ≥1 adverse event
313 (68.6)
321 (69.0)
307 (67.5)
With ≥1 serious adverse event
24 (5.3)
11 (2.4)
10 (2.2)
Died
0
0
1 (0.2)
With ≥1 adverse event leading to treatment discontinuation
Adverse events reported at the level of MedDRA preferred term occurring in ≥2% of patients in any treatment group, except for preferred terms of herpes viral infections (MedDRA high level term).
Cluster of preferred terms includes conjunctivitis of unspecified cause, allergic, bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, and atopic keratoconjunctivitis.
10 (2.2)
45 (9.7)
33 (7.3)
Headache
24 (5.3)
40 (8.6)
33 (7.3)
Diarrhea
7 (1.6)
16 (3.4)
10 (2.2)
Back pain
9 (2.0)
9 (2.0)
10 (2.2)
Arthralgia
9 (2.0)
12 (2.6)
3 (0.7)
Nausea
4 (0.9)
10 (2.2)
9 (2.0)
Fatigue
4 (0.9)
11 (2.4)
7 (1.5)
Dizziness
9 (2.0)
6 (1.3)
4 (0.9)
Blood creatine phosphokinase increased
7 (1.5)
9 (1.9)
3 (0.7)
MedDRA, Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities; qw, once weekly; q2w, every 2 weeks.
a Adverse events reported at the level of MedDRA preferred term occurring in ≥2% of patients in any treatment group, except for preferred terms of herpes viral infections (MedDRA high level term).
b Reported as MedDRA system organ class.
c Adjudicated.
d Reported as MedDRA high level term.
e Preferred term denotes exacerbation of atopic dermatitis.
f Cluster of preferred terms includes conjunctivitis of unspecified cause, allergic, bacterial and viral conjunctivitis, and atopic keratoconjunctivitis.
The most common adverse events included exacerbation of AD (Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities preferred term “dermatitis atopic”), which was more common in the placebo group, nasaopharyngitis, which was balanced between treatment groups, and conjunctivitis and injection-site reactions, which were reported more often in dupilumab-treated patients (Table 3). Most injection-site reactions were of mild or moderate severity, self-limiting and required no treatment. Most cases of conjunctivitis were mild or moderate and resolved during the study treatment period. Only 1 patient (in the dupilumab 300 mg qw group) discontinued study treatment prematurely because of conjunctivitis.
Overall, the proportions of patients who had infections were similar in the dupilumab q2w, qw and placebo groups (31%, 31% and 30%, respectively) (Table 3). Non-herpetic skin infections were more common with placebo (Tables 3, S6); the difference in incidence was nominally significant in the combined dupilumab groups versus the placebo group (5.7% versus 9.4%, respectively; P = 0.0093). Herpes viral infections were reported in 5% of patients in both dupilumab groups and in 4% of patients in the placebo group (Table 3). Serious or severe infections occurred at numerically higher rates in the placebo than in the dupilumab groups (Table S7). Additional details of serious or severe infections are reported in Table S7.
There were 2 deaths in the SOLO studies; neither was considered related to the study drug. For further details see Simpson et al. [
]. Laboratory values, vital signs, and electrocardiographic assessments did not indicate clinically noteworthy differences between treatment groups. Small, transient increases from baseline in eosinophil counts were observed in the dupilumab groups at Weeks 4 and 8, with subsequent decreases toward or below baseline levels by Week 16 (Fig. S8, Table S8).
4. Discussion
In this pooled analysis of the phase 3 SOLO 1 and SOLO 2 studies, 16-week dupilumab treatment (versus placebo) significantly improved clinical parameters and symptoms of AD, including itch as early as Day 2, and aspects of mental health and QoL, including pain/discomfort, and had an acceptable safety profile in adults with moderate-to-severe AD. Outcomes were similar for both dupilumab dose regimens. These results are consistent with the data reported from the individual SOLO studies [
The post-hoc pooled analysis of response distribution over time by score category on the IGA (0 or 1, 2, 3, or 4) and EASI (≥90%, ≥75 to <90%, ≥50 to <75%, and <50%) showed steady improvement in response distributions through Week 16 in patients receiving dupilumab; occasional fluctuations in the distribution patterns probably reflected fluctuations in the disease course over time and, to some degree, the inherent variability of the outcome measures. This variability was also noted in the placebo group; however, clinically meaningful levels of response were achieved in substantially fewer placebo-treated than dupilumab-treated patients. This observation highlights the complex dynamics of clinical responses in AD and indicates that an analysis of single time points may not adequately characterize the treatment effect.
In addition to DLQI, the generic EQ-5D was also used to assess HRQoL in patients with moderate-to-severe AD in the SOLO trials; results of these analyses have been reported [
Dupilumab improves general health-related quality-of-life in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: pooled results from two randomized, controlled phase 3 clinical trials.
Dupilumab improves general health-related quality-of-life in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: pooled results from two randomized, controlled phase 3 clinical trials.
]. Dupilumab versus placebo significantly reduced symptoms of pain/discomfort in patients who reported at least some pain/discomfort at baseline. Pain is an important symptom of AD [
]. In the fourth international consensus meeting to harmonize core outcome measures for atopic eczema/dermatitis clinical trials (HOME initiative), the results of a global patient survey (N = 1111) identified pain/soreness, together with itch, as the items most important to patients when judging treatment response [
Report from the fourth international consensus meeting to harmonize core outcome measures for atopic eczema/dermatitis clinical trials (HOME initiative).
Sensitivity analyses demonstrated that the primary efficacy outcome was not biased by the statistical convention used in the primary analysis, in which patients who received rescue treatment for AD were counted as nonresponders (nonresponder imputation [NRI]), although this conservative method did result in lower response rates overall. Outcomes remained statistically significant for all key endpoints even when data after rescue treatment were included (all-observed analysis); however, a much greater proportion of placebo-treated than dupilumab-treated patients received rescue treatment. Furthermore, response rates calculated using all observed data are more consistent with real-life scenarios. Although these data are confounded by the effect of rescue treatment, which favors the placebo group, they more accurately reflect results (versus those of the very conservative NRI analysis) that may be expected from using dupilumab in clinical practice.
Consistent with data from the individual SOLO studies, this pooled analysis allowed us to confirm the acceptable safety profile of dupilumab: no new safety signals were observed in the pooled population. The lower incidence of non-herpetic skin infections in the dupilumab versus the placebo groups is consistent with findings from the individual SOLO studies [
Long-term management of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with dupilumab and concomitant topical corticosteroids (LIBERTY AD CHRONOS): a 1-year, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.
Dupilumab with concomitant topical corticosteroid treatment in adults with atopic dermatitis with an inadequate response or intolerance to ciclosporin A or when this treatment is medically inadvisable: a placebo-controlled, randomized phase III clinical trial (LIBERTY AD CAFÉ.
], in which the incidence of non-herpetic skin infections was lower in patients treated with dupilumab plus TCS than in patients treated with placebo plus TCS. These results are also consistent with the notion that reducing type 2 skin inflammation promotes normalization of the skin barrier and antimicrobial responses [
Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis inadequately controlled by topical treatments: a randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging phase 2b trial.
Long-term management of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with dupilumab and concomitant topical corticosteroids (LIBERTY AD CHRONOS): a 1-year, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.
Dupilumab with concomitant topical corticosteroid treatment in adults with atopic dermatitis with an inadequate response or intolerance to ciclosporin A or when this treatment is medically inadvisable: a placebo-controlled, randomized phase III clinical trial (LIBERTY AD CAFÉ.
]. The cause of this apparent imbalance is not clear. Similar to the data from the two SOLO studies reported here, more than 90% of cases of conjunctivitis in clinical trials of dupilumab in AD were mild or moderate, and more than 75% resolved or were resolving during study treatment [
Dupilumab efficacy and safety in adults with uncontrolled persistent asthma despite use of medium-to-high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus a long-acting β2 agonist: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pivotal phase 2b dose-ranging trial.
In conclusion, similar to the early-phase dupilumab studies and SOLO 1 and SOLO 2 trials, this pooled analysis of SOLO 1 and SOLO 2 demonstrates that dupilumab monotherapy (versus placebo) leads to rapid, robust, and significant improvement in AD signs, patient-reported outcomes including itch, pain, and sleep disturbance, symptoms of anxiety/depression, and HRQoL. The pooled data show that dupilumab has an acceptable safety profile (no new safety signals were observed) and an overall favorable benefit-risk ratio in a population of AD patients with a high burden of disease and limited therapeutic options. These results support the importance of inhibiting the activity of the type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 in the treatment of AD. In addition, efficacy and safety findings for dupilumab in phase 3 trials of asthma and early-phase trials of CRSwNP and eosinophilic esophagitis indicate that IL-4 and IL-13 play an important role not only in AD but also in other type 2 atopic/allergic diseases that are common comorbidities in AD patients.
Funding
This research was sponsored by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifiers: NCT02277743; NCT02277769.
Conflict of interest statement
D. Thaçi has acted as consultant, member of scientific advisory boards or lecturer for Abbvie, Almiral, Amgen, Biogen-Idec, BMS, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Celgene, Dignity, Dr. Reddy, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag, LEO Pharma, Mitsubishi, Morphosis, MSD, Mundipharma, Novartis, Pfizer, La Roche-Posay, Roche, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sandoz-Hexal, Sanofi, and Xenoport, and has received grants or research support from Celgene and Novartis.
E.L. Simpson has received grants or research support from Anacor Pharma, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, Novartis, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Roivant Sciences, Tioga Pharmaceuticals Inc., Vanda Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and has served as a consultant for AbbVie, Anacor Pharma, Celgene, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Galderma, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, LEO Pharma, Menlo Therapeutics, Pfizer, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi Genzyme, and Valeant.
M. Deleuran has acted as consultant, investigator, member of scientific advisory boards and/or lecturer for Abbvie, Galapagos, LEO Pharma, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre, La Roche-Posay, Roche, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., and Sanofi Genzyme.
Y. Kataoka has received lecture honoraria from Sysmex.
Z. Chen, A. Gadkari, B. Akinlade, N.M.H. Graham and M. Ardeleanu are employees and shareholders of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
L. Eckert and G. Pirozzi are employees of Sanofi; may hold stock or stock options in the company.
Acknowledgement
Editorial assistance was provided by Jamie Lim, PhD, of Excerpta Medica, funded by Sanofi Genzyme and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Appendix A. Supplementary data
The following are Supplementary data to this article:
Dupilumab therapy provides clinically meaningful improvement in patient-reported outcomes (PROs): a phase IIb, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in adult patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD).
Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in adults with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis inadequately controlled by topical treatments: a randomised, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging phase 2b trial.
Long-term management of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis with dupilumab and concomitant topical corticosteroids (LIBERTY AD CHRONOS): a 1-year, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial.
Dupilumab with concomitant topical corticosteroid treatment in adults with atopic dermatitis with an inadequate response or intolerance to ciclosporin A or when this treatment is medically inadvisable: a placebo-controlled, randomized phase III clinical trial (LIBERTY AD CAFÉ.
Dupilumab improves general health-related quality-of-life in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis: pooled results from two randomized, controlled phase 3 clinical trials.
Report from the fourth international consensus meeting to harmonize core outcome measures for atopic eczema/dermatitis clinical trials (HOME initiative).
Dupilumab efficacy and safety in adults with uncontrolled persistent asthma despite use of medium-to-high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus a long-acting β2 agonist: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled pivotal phase 2b dose-ranging trial.
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