Citation

The impact of dupilumab, an anti-interleukin (IL)-4R antibody that inhibits IL-4/IL-13 signaling, on vaccine responses in atopic dermatitis (AD) patients is unknown. To assess T-cell-dependent and -independent humoral responses to tetanus and meningococcal vaccines, IgE seroconversion to tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid, and acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination, and dupilumab efficacy and safety. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study (NCT02210780), adults with moderate-to-severe AD received dupilumab (300 mg) or placebo weekly for 16 weeks, and single doses of Tdap and quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines at Week 12. Primary endpoint was proportion of patients achieving satisfactory IgG response to tetanus toxoid at Week 16. 178 patients completed the study. Similar positive responses with dupilumab/placebo to tetanus (83.3%/83.7%) and meningococcal polysaccharide (86.7%/87.0%) were achieved. Dupilumab significantly decreased total serum IgE; most dupilumab-treated patients were Tdap IgE-seronegative at Week 32 (62.2%/34.8%; dupilumab/placebo). Dupilumab improved key AD efficacy endpoints (P<0.001). Injection-site reactions and conjunctivitis were more common with dupilumab; AD exacerbations more frequent with placebo. Patients’ prior vaccination status was not available before enrollment. Dupilumab did not affect responses to the vaccines studied, significantly decreased IgE, and improved measures of AD severity versus placebo, with an acceptable safety profile. Copyright 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.