Dupilumab for eosinophilic oesophagitis in paediatric patients

Dupilumab is in clinical development for the treatment of paediatric patients with active eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). EoE is an allergic inflammation of the oesophagus that usually results from a food allergy. Eosinophils are a kind of white blood cell activated by an allergic reaction, which causes eosinophils to build up in the lining of the oesophagus, resulting in swelling of the oesophagus and symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, abdominal pain, reflux-like symptoms, vomiting/regurgitation, feeding problems and failure to thrive. The lining of the oesophagus may undergo remodelling changes, responsible for the characteristic symptoms and complications of EoE. Research is ongoing and will likely lead to revisions in the treatment of EoE, as there is currently an unmet need for appropriate treatment options.