Dupixent® (dupilumab) Approved in Japan for Children Aged 6 to 11 Years with Bronchial Asthma

Core Insights - The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan has granted marketing and manufacturing authorization for Dupixent (dupilumab) for treating bronchial asthma in children aged 6 to 11 years with severe or refractory disease [1][2] Group 1: Approval and Clinical Data - The approval is based on a global Phase 3 trial (VOYAGE) showing Dupixent significantly reduced severe asthma exacerbations by 54% to 65% and improved lung function by 4.68% to 5.32% compared to placebo [1][2] - Dupixent is the first biologic medicine to demonstrate improved lung function in children aged 6 to 11 years in a randomized Phase 3 trial [1][2] - Additional data from the EXCURSION trial, which included a sub-study of Japanese pediatric patients, supported the approval [2] Group 2: Treatment Context and Importance - Asthma is a prevalent chronic disease in children, and uncontrolled asthma can lead to serious symptoms and long-term health issues, including impaired lung function [3] - Current standard treatments may not adequately control symptoms, necessitating new therapeutic options like Dupixent [3] Group 3: Dupixent's Broader Indications - In addition to asthma, Dupixent is approved in Japan for several other conditions, including atopic dermatitis, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [4] - Dupixent has received regulatory approvals in over 60 countries for various indications, with more than 1.3 million patients treated globally [7] Group 4: Dupixent Administration and Technology - Dupixent is available in Japan as a 200 mg or 300 mg pre-filled syringe or pen, administered subcutaneously every two or four weeks based on weight [5] - The drug is developed using Regeneron's VelocImmune technology, which produces fully human monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-4 and IL-13 pathways [6][8]