Eight-year-old Calla has struggled with atopic dermatitis ever since she was an infant. Around the time she turned 5, her eczema became much more severe as her itch and irritation got worse, particularly when exposed to triggers like heat or salt water.
"It was actually during a beach trip that I realized we really needed to do something to be proactive about Calla's eczema," her mom, Jill, explains. "Her skin got so irritated and itchy — I decided right then and there we needed to do more to address it."
After spending a long time trying different topical prescription medicines, Calla's doctor helped Jill decide to try Dupixent and see if it could work for Calla. "Calla's doctor said people who are allergic to Dupixent, or its ingredients shouldn't use it," recalls Jill. "And of course, we discussed her medical conditions and other medicines she was taking, in addition to the most common and serious side effects."
Over the next few months, Calla saw an improvement. Her skin was clearer, and she wasn't itching as much. In a clinical trial at 16 weeks, more than twice as many children 6-11 years of age taking Dupixent plus a topical corticosteroid (TCS) saw clear or almost clear skin (30% taking 300mg every 4 weeks plus TCS vs 13% on TCS only, 39% taking 200 mg every 2 weeks plus TCS vs 10% on TCS only). Also at 16 weeks, about 4.5 times as many children 6-11 years of age taking Dupixent plus a TCS had less itch than those on TCS only (54% taking 300 mg every 4 weeks plus TCS vs 12% on TCS only; 61% taking 200 mg every 2 weeks plus TCS vs 13% on TCS only).
"Dupixent has made a difference for Calla," says Jill. "She can play and swim comfortably and enjoy herself without being focused on her eczema symptoms as much."
Calla and Adante are sharing their stories in partnership with Sanofi and Regeneron as part of The Now Me: Beach Mode program. Hear more about how they activate their own "Beach Mode" moments at TheNowMe.com.
Visit Dupixent.com to learn more about Dupixent and access the full Prescribing Information.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & INDICATION
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.
- 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 or if you have atopic dermatitis and asthma and use an asthma medicine. 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 eye exam if needed.
- 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 in patients with atopic dermatitis include injection site reactions, eye and eyelid inflammation, including redness, swelling, and itching, sometimes with blurred vision, cold sores in your mouth or on your lips, and high count of a certain white blood cell (eosinophilia).
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 under 12 years of age, DUPIXENT should be given by a caregiver.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information including Patient Information.
INDICATION
DUPIXENT is a prescription medicine used to treat adults and children 6 months of age and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) 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.
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