Top in allergy/asthma: Vaccines OK when taking dupilumab; know the limits of allergy tests

A panel of experts agreed that vaccines can be safe and effective in patients receiving dupilumab, although they said that physicians should engage with patients in decision-making before vaccination.

According to the experts, patients enrolled in phase 3 trials of dupilumab (Dupixent; Regeneron, Sanofi) were not allowed to receive live vaccinations, creating a research gap that left patients, particularly children, in a vulnerable position. This motivated them to perform a database search for studies where patients being treated with dupilumab received vaccines.

After reviewing the evidence, 89.3% of the panelists agreed with the statement that “it is safe to administer live vaccines to patients receiving dupilumab.”

“My hope is that we see increased use of live vaccines in patients receiving dupilumab and hopefully develop some real-world data to prove, one way or another, the response patients have to these vaccines,” Jay A. Lieberman, MD, an associate professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, told Healio.

It was the top story in allergy/asthma last week.

In another top story, Healio spoke with Rasa Petraityt-Burneikien, PhD, a research scientist at Vilnius University Life Sciences Centre, about the advantages and disadvantages of different food allergy tests and the importance of performing multiple tests to ensure accurate diagnoses.

Read these and more top stories in allergy/asthma below:

Panel OKs vaccination during dupilumab treatment

Vaccinations can be safe and effective during dupilumab treatment, according to the consensus of a panel published in Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Read more.

Q&A: Allergy test interpretations require caution

Allergy treatment relies on accurate diagnoses, but current methods such as skin, blood and provocation testing all offer limitations that can lead to false positives and other poor outcomes. Read more.

Increased greenness, canopy cover may have protective measures in respiratory outcomes

Greenness and foliage may have protective measures when it comes to respiratory outcomes in Bay Area communities in California, according to a poster shown at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. Read more.

Diets during pregnancy associated with asthma risks at age 6 years

Maternal diets were associated with risks for active asthma among children at age 6 years, according to a presentation at the American Thoracic Society International Conference. Read more.

Sirolimus associated with improved outcomes in refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria

Sirolimus may be a safe and effective alternative for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria who do not respond to other treatments, according to a study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. Read more.