Dupilumab: local formulary information

Safety

See the summary of product characteristics for dupilumab for contraindications, warnings, precautions for use and reported adverse effects.

Treatment-emergent adverse events

Treatment-emergent adverse events are safety events arising after starting treatment. In BOREAS and NOTUS combined, 938 people had dupilumab and 934 people had placebo. Table 2 shows all treatment-emergent adverse events experienced by 5% or more of participants in either group, or by at least 2% in the dupilumab group with an incidence of at least 1% higher than the placebo group, by preferred term.

Table 2 Pooled analysis of treatment-emergent adverse events
System organ class preferred term Dupilumab (n=938) Placebo (n=934)

All

any

676 (72.1)

663 (71.0)

Infections and infestations

any

402 (42.9)

406 (43.5)

Infections and infestations

nasopharyngitis

73 (7.8)

69 (7.4)

Infections and infestations

COVID-19

65 (6.9)

66 (7.1)

Infections and infestation

upper respiratory tract infection

50 (5.3)

57 (6.1)

Infections and infestations

urinary tract infection

28 (3.0)

18 (1.9)

Nervous system disorders

any

108 (11.5)

108 (11.6)

Nervous system disorders

headache

73 (7.8)

62 (6.6)

Vascular disorders

any

54 (5.8)

73 (7.8)

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

any

123 (13.1)

133 (14.2)

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

50 (5.3)

64 (6.9)

Gastrointestinal disorder

any

135 (14.4)

130 (13.9)

Gastrointestinal disorder

gastritis

19 (2.0)

7 (0.7)

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

any

126 (13.4)

121 (13.0)

Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders

back pain

42 (4.5)

29 (3.1)

Injury, poisoning and procedural complications

any

122 (13.0)

139 (14.9)

Injury, poisoning and procedural complications

accidental overdose

57 (6.1)

62 (6.6)

Cardiac disorders

any

56 (6.0)

62 (6.6)

The summary of product characteristics for dupilumab reports injection site reactions in people with COPD. Anaphylactic reaction, angioedema, serum sickness and serum sickness-like reactions have also been reported after administration of dupilumab.

Ocular reactions have been reported in people having dupilumab for conditions other than COPD, predominantly atopic dermatitis. These include conjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, eye pruritus, blepharitis, dry eye, keratitis and ulcerative keratitis. See the MHRA drug safety update on dupilumab (Dupixent): risk of ocular adverse reactions and need for prompt management for further information.

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