On the heels of National Eczema Awareness Month, MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies has launched their newest study on Dupixent® (dupilumab), an injectable medication used to treat patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. The study will provide information on the safety of Dupixent® when used during pregnancy, and will help women and their healthcare providers get the information they need to make more informed treatment decisions.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) estimates that eczema affects 30 percent of the U.S. population. The condition is typically characterized by dry, irritated and inflamed skin, which tends to crack or bleed when scratched. Most people who suffer from eczema are more susceptible to skin infections caused by bacteria and viruses. With eczema being more common in women than men, there is an urgent need for more information on treatment safety during pregnancy.
Dr. Christina Chambers, an epidemiologist at the University of California San Diego who specializes in the area of medication exposures and their effects on pregnancy, is leading the study. “Eczema is such a common condition in women, and women who have more severe forms of it may benefit from this new line of treatment. But for pregnant women, a big question remains about whether these medications have any impact on a developing baby. Our study aims to provide this much-needed information,” said Chambers.
Dupixent® was launched in the United States in April 2017 as the first biologic medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat adults with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis. Biologic therapies are unique in that they work by selectively targeting specific immune responses, rather than suppressing the entire immune system.
MotherToBaby aims to recruit 300 pregnant women throughout the U.S. and Canada to participate in the study over the next 5½ years. Pregnant women who are diagnosed with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis may qualify whether they have or have not been exposed to Dupixent®. To learn more about the study, call 877.311.8972 or visit: Eczema/Atopic Dermatitis and Pregnancy Study.
To learn more about MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies, view our Pregnancy Studies 101 flyer.
More About MotherToBaby
MotherToBaby is a suggested resource by many agencies including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Women’s Health. More than 100,000 women and their health care providers seek information about birth defects prevention from MotherToBaby every year. MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies are conducted by the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) and coordinated at the University of California, San Diego.
