Dupilumab: new opportunities for the treatment of asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Abstract

Airway inflammation plays a crucial role in the development of asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The severity of inflammation influences the clinical picture of the disease and, most importantly, the effectiveness of therapy. To date, the growth in the incidence rate of asthma and CRSwNP is still high and the effectiveness of existing therapy for severe asthma, especially associated with CRSwNP, is unsatisfactory. Therefore, the aim is to investigate novel diagnostic tools and therapies. The emergence of biologics that target specific inflammatory pathways is a promising step forward to achieve control of severe uncontrolled asthma and recurrent CRSwNP. Dupilumab is one of recently introduced monoclonal antibodies, which has shown significant advances in the treatment of asthma and CRSwNP. Dupilumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody targeted to interleukin-4 receptor alpha subunit (IL-4R) that is a receptor for both IL-4 and IL-13. Thus, it helps to inhibit cytokine T2-signaling (IL-4 and IL-13), since the IL-4/IL-13/STAT6 signaling pathway plays a crucial role in T2-inflammation. In Russia, dupilumab is currently approved as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (in children over 6 years of age), asthma (in children over 12 years of age) and severe CRSwNP in adults. This article summarizes the main data on dupilumab and its efficacy in patients with asthma and CRSwNP and presents a relevant case report.