Effects of “Dupixent” (dupilumab)
Dupixent (dupilumab) is an injectable drug that blocks the sources behind skin rash and itching, common in atopic dermatitis.
It has proven to be high in efficacy and safety for patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis who have an inadequent response to conventional treatments. It is considered to be an excellent, unrivaled treatment for atopic dermatitis.
Patients Eligible for Dupixent
- Ages 15 and up
- Individuals with atopic dermatitis
- Individuals who do not yield effective responses to topical anti-inflammatory drugs, such as topical steroids and protopic ointments, even after a certain period of use.
*Generally, topical medications should continue to be applied after the Dupixent treatment begins.
Introducing Dupixent at Our Clinic
First-time users
Please contact us by filling out the atopic dermatitis form for consultation regarding Dupixent.
We will help you determine whether your condition is eligible for Dupixent, as well as address any concerns you may have regarding any financial burden, the hospital visit schedule, self-injections, and so on.
Continuing Dupixent Treatment from Another Clinic
We can also provide services to patients who have had a Dupixent injection at another hospital. If you perform self-injections, we can prescribe Dupixent even during your first visit.
To smoothen the process of the treatment, it is recommended that you bring your doctor’s evaluation of your skin symptoms when getting introduced to Dupixent.
Treatment Process
If this drug is eligible for the patient, an appointment will be booked for the patient to visit the hospital to begin administration of the drug.
*Appointments are required as the drug needs to be taken out of refrigeration and takes at least 45 minutes to be brought back to room temperature.
On the first day of administration, the patient will be given two subcutaneous injections, which are injections right under the skin surface.
From the second injection on, a subcutaneous injection is administered once every two weeks. If the patient wishes to further continue the treatment, they may choose to do so at the clinic or at home.
Our clinic can prescribe up to three months’ worth (six injections) of self-injections per visit. The medical expense subsidy system described below can be used to reduce the out-of-pocket expenses.
Self-Injection
Dupixent (dupilumab) is approved for self-injection, so patients who have recieved instruction can self-inject.
The advantages of self-injection include:
- – Reduced constraints and other time-related stressors associated with hospital visits.
- – Reduced co-payments under the High-Cost Medical Expense Benefit System (*dependent on income)
Side Effects of Dupixent
With virtually no reports of serious side effects, Dupixent is a safe drug with few side effects.
A relatively common side effect is conjunctivitis (pink eye). It is advised for patients to visit an ophthalmologist if necessary. Facial redness may also occur.
We have received some questions as to whether Dupixent can cause weight gain, but so far, there has been no such reports.
NHI Drug Price
Estimated Costs for Dupixent®
The drug fee for Dupixent® is 58,775 yen per pen and 58,593 yen per syringe. The price of the drug is 30% copay, with the first dose (2 syringes) costing 35,265 yen and each subsequent doses (1 syringe) costing 17,633 yen.
For those who are considering Dupixent
Patient Background
What are the age groups?
About 80% of our patients are in their 20s (35%), 30s (32%), and 40s (22%).
There is no upper age limit for treatment. In fact, we even had patients in their 70s request this treatment after seeing that their children’s atopic dermatitis had improved.
What is the male to female ratio?
Most of the patients who have been introduced to Dupixent at our clinic have been male.
Reasons for seeking Dupixent treatment
We hear from many of our patients that they want to be able to sleep well, and we are keenly aware of how much they are suffering.
Patient Self-Assessment of Dupixent
We generally ask all our atopic dermatitis patients to self-assess their condition using a symptom check card. This card is a simple questionnaire with seven questions that the patients answer and score to better understand the status of their condition. When trying a new treatment, you can evaluate its effectiveness by assessing multiple times before and after administration.
Patients’ POEM Score Trends
The lines on the graph represent the change in the Patient Oriented Eczema Measure (POEM) scores of each patient introduced to Dupixent before administration, 2 weeks after administration, and four weeks after administration.
Compared to the score before Dupixent was administered, all the subsequent scores decreased significantly, and the self-assessed symptoms have shown to improve after a single administration.
In both severity groups, the average POEM score was found to be less than half of the initial score after 4 weeks (1 month later)
(*There are individual differences)
This data is a good indication of how much your current score can be reduced after 2 to 4 weeks with Dupixent.
If your current POEM score is more than 8, you are considered a moderate case or above and may be eligible for Dupixent. We understand that you suffer greatly if your symptoms do not get resolved with existing treatments. For any questions regarding the introduction of Dupixent, please contact us through .
