FDA Approves First Treatment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, a Chronic Immune Disorder
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Dupixent (dupilumab) to treat eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in adults and pediatric patients 12 years and older weighing at least 40 kilograms (which is about 88 pounds). Today’s action marks the first FDA approval of a treatment for EoE.
EoE is a chronic inflammatory disorder in which eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, are found in the tissue of the esophagus. In adults and adolescent patients with EoE, common symptoms include difficulty swallowing, difficulty eating, and food getting stuck in the esophagus. Dupixent is a monoclonal antibody that acts to inhibit part of the inflammatory pathway.
The most common side effects associated with Dupixent include injection site reactions, upper respiratory tract infections, joint pain, and herpes viral infections.
Dupixent is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to dupilumab or any of its inactive ingredients. Dupixent carries warnings and precautions, including ones addressing potential development of allergic reactions, conjunctivitis, keratitis, or joint pain; use in patients with certain parasitic infections; and use in conjunction with live vaccinations.
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