In March of 2017, Dupixent became the first biologic medicine approved by the FDA for the treatment of severe atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema. Considering the relative newness of Dupixent, it is important for consumers to know more about this medication, including information on how long Dupixent stays in the system.
Limited information about the human half-life for Dupixent exists. That being said, DrugBank.ca provides the following information regarding the half-life of Dupixent and the FDA offers information about time to steady-state:
Mean effective half-life: Unknown in humans; 4.8 to 7 days in laboratory rats and 11.7 to 20.5 days in cynomolgus monkeys
Time to steady-state: 16 weeks
Dupixent has an oral bioavailability of 64 percent, according to the American College of Clinical Pharmacology. This means that the body absorbs 64 percent of the Dupixent dose. The body eliminates Dupixent through excretion in stool or by breaking down Dupixent in a process known as catabolism. Unlike other types of molecules, the small monoclonal antibodies in Dupixent are too large for the kidneys to filter, so the body cannot eliminate Dupixent through urine.
FAQ
What is the half-life of Dupixent?
The half-life of Dupixent is unknown in humans, but is 4.8 to 20.5 days in lab animals.
How long does Dupixent stay in your system?
The answer to this question is currently unclear for humans.
However, experts currently know that this medication has a half-life of 4.8 to 20.5 days in lab animals. Since it takes roughly 5.5 half-lives for a body to eliminate a substance, that means it takes these lab animals approximately 26.4 to 112.75 days to clear Dupixent from their systems.
How long can you stay on Dupixent?
Dupixent is a long-term treatment. Patients can stay on this drug as long as it provides effective relief from the condition for which it was prescribed.
Is Dupixent an immunosuppressant?
No. While Dupixent works to calm the immune system, it is not an immunosuppressant. Immunosuppressant medications for atopic dermatitis suppress many different chemical messengers that control inflammation. Dupixent is a biologic drug, which means it suppresses only one or two chemical messengers.
How often do I take Dupixent?
Dupixent is administered by injection under the skin once every two weeks for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Does Dupixent affect the liver?
Extensive research shows that Dupixent does not affect the liver.
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