Can an asthma drug soothe skin allergies? small trial tests dupilumab
NCT ID NCT03935971
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 17, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether dupilumab, a drug already used for eczema and asthma, can help people with allergic contact dermatitis — a skin reaction to allergens like nickel or fragrances. Seventeen adults with confirmed allergies will receive the drug, and doctors will track changes in skin severity and body surface area over time. The goal is to see if dupilumab can control the condition better than current options.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- dupilumab (a drug that blocks certain immune signals to reduce inflammation)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for people with allergic contact dermatitis that is hard to manage.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small early-phase study with only 17 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug may not improve symptoms or could cause side effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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17 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2019
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. At least 18 years of age 2. At least one contact allergen with a 2+ (strong) or 3+ (extreme reaction) confirmed by patch testing within 6 months of the baseline visit that can be duplicated at the initiation of the study (placement at Week 0 and patch test reaction read at Week 0 +72-120 hours). 3. Allergic contact dermatitis diagnosed clinically by the principle investigators who have expertise in allergic contact dermatitis 4. Investigator's global assessment score of at least 3 (range 0-4) at the screening and baseline visits 5. Documented recent history (within 18 months of patch testing) of inadequate response to treatment with topical medications and allergen avoidance 6. Able and willing to provide informed consent, participate in study visits, and undergo visit procedures Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior dupilumab use 2. Treatment with a systemic immune-regulating medication within 3 months of the baseline visit or the patient's prior patch testing, whichever is longer. Examples of these medications include azathioprine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil, Janus kinase inhibitors, and phototherapy (including tanning booths). Cyclosporine or prednisone may not have been used within 1 month of the baseline visit. 3. Treatment with other biologic agents, such as TNF inhibitors, anti-IL 17 agents, anti-IL 12/23 agents, or anti-IL 23 agents, within 4 months of baseline visit or the patient's prior patch testing, whichever is longer. 4. Use of rituximab within at 6 months (or until lymphocyte counts have normalized if longer than 6 months) of the baseline visit or the patient's prior patch testing, whichever is longer. 5. Treatment with topical corticosteroids or topical calcineurin inhibitors within 1 week before the baseline visit 6. Other active conditions, such as psoriasis, that may confound clinical evaluations of dermatitis and patient-reported symptoms 7. Increased risk of infection or reactivated infection, including history of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, endoparasitic infections, receipt of a live attenuated vaccine within 3 months of the baseline visit, chronic or acute infection requiring treatment within 4 weeks of the baseline visit, immunosuppressed status (ie recurrent or resistant opportunistic infections) 8. Malignancy within 5 years of the screening visit excluding local cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma or cervical carcinoma in situ that has been fully treated. 9. Women who are or plan to become pregnant or breastfeed during study participation or are unable or not willing to use birth control during the study and for 4 months after the last dose of dupilumab. Options for birth control include abstinence, double barrier (ie male condom and female diaphragm), vasectomy, intrauterine device, and hormonal contraception. Females who have not had menses within 1 year of the baseline, bilateral tubal ligation, hysterectomy, and/or bilateral oophorectomy visit do not require additional methods contraception during study participation. 10. Unstable condition or status, as per study investigator's judgment, that may lead to more likely discontinuation from the study including but not limited to major, recurrent medical illnesses that may require hospital admission and/or discontinuation of dupilumab, surgery that would require discontinuation of dupilumab and/or major rehabilitation, inability to participate in all study visits and administer dupilumab 11. Resident outside of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine or Vermont state. 12. Unable to use Zoom videoconferencing.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Dermatology
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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