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Dupixent (dupilumab) has been a genuine breakthrough for many families. For children with moderate-to-severe eczema, asthma, and other inflammatory conditions, it has offered meaningful relief when other treatments fell short. The FDA has approved it for children as young as six months, and many pediatric patients have benefited from it.
At the same time, recent research has identified a potential link between Dupixent use and a rare cancer called cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) — primarily in adult patients. What this means for children on the drug is not yet fully understood. Long-term safety data in pediatric patients remains limited.
If your child has been prescribed Dupixent, we want to help you talk to your physician about their treatment, ask the questions that need to be asked, and make an informed choice about your child’s care. Do not stop or change your child’s medication without full consultation with their physician.
Dupixent is a biologic medication manufactured by Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. It works by blocking two proteins — IL-4 and IL-13 — that drive type 2 inflammation. It is FDA-approved for pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (eczema), certain forms of asthma, eosinophilic esophagitis, and other conditions. Recently, it was approved by the FDA for the treatment of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) in children.
For many children, Dupixent has meaningfully improved quality of life, reducing the chronic itch, skin lesions, and sleep disruption that moderate-to-severe eczema causes. The American Academy of Pediatrics includes it in treatment guidelines for appropriate pediatric patients, and clinical trials have shown strong efficacy results in children across age groups.
However, medical knowledge about this drug — especially long term use in young children — continues to evolve. A 2023 study concluded that while dupilumab is effective for treating atopic dermatitis, few studies have assessed the long-term clinical data of dupilumab use in pediatric patients, and that future studies should evaluate long-term use and sustained effects. That leaves a concerning gap in knowledge about this medication.
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that primarily affects the skin. In its early stages it can closely resemble eczema — patches, plaques, and persistent itching — which makes it particularly difficult to detect in patients already being treated for a skin condition. To understand more about how Dupixent may affect the visibility of this cancer, see our post: Dupixent Lawsuits: How the Masking Effect May Hide Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma.
Several scientific studies published in 2024 and 2025 found a significant association between Dupixent use and CTCL in adult patients. One study found that adult atopic dermatitis patients on Dupixent were more than four times more likely to develop CTCL than those not on the drug. Another, focused on asthma patients, found a 4.5-fold increased risk. In March 2025, the FDA added Dupixent to its list of medications under safety review for a potential CTCL signal.
Critically, the CTCL research to date has focused primarily on adults. The implications for children are not yet certain. What is known is that Dupixent has been approved and widely prescribed to children, that long-term safety data in this population is limited, and that the same immune-modulating mechanism that has raised CTCL concerns in adults is present in children taking the drug. That is not a reason to panic — but it is a reason to stay informed and in close communication with your child’s physician.
For a broader overview of what the research shows, see: Can Dupixent Cause Lymphoma? What Patients and Families Should Know.
Every parent making a treatment decision for their child deserves complete information. Informed medical decision-making — the kind that happens in a real conversation between a family and a physician — depends on knowing not just the benefits of a treatment, but the full picture of its risks.
Lawsuits filed against Sanofi and Regeneron allege that the drug’s manufacturers failed to warn doctors and patients about the emerging CTCL risk. As of early 2026, no cancer warning appears on the Dupixent label, despite growing evidence of a potential association in adults and an active FDA safety review. Families and their doctors are left to make important choices without full information.
That doesn’t mean Dupixent is the wrong choice for your child. It may well be the right one. But that decision belongs to you and your physician — made together, with all available information on the table.
You don’t need to be a medical expert to ask good questions. Here are some straightforward ones to bring to your next appointment:
These are not adversarial questions. They are exactly the kind that good physicians will be happy to discuss with you.
Because CTCL can mimic eczema, the following symptoms deserve prompt medical attention if they appear — especially if they are new, persistent, or don’t fit your child’s typical flare pattern:
None of these symptoms confirms a cancer diagnosis. But they are worth raising with your child’s physician, who can determine whether further evaluation or a biopsy is appropriate.
Important: do not stop your child’s Dupixent based on symptoms alone. Stopping a medication abruptly could cause a disease flare. Any change to treatment should happen in consultation with your child’s doctor.
Families across the country have filed lawsuits against Dupixent manufacturers Sanofi and Regeneron, alleging that the companies failed to warn patients about the CTCL risk despite mounting evidence. These cases are in early stages, and an MDL (multidistrict litigation) consolidation has been sought. For answers to common legal questions, see: Dupixent Lawsuits for T-Cell Lymphoma: FAQs.
If your child has been diagnosed with CTCL or another T-cell lymphoma after taking Dupixent, the attorneys at Morris James LLP are available to help you understand your options. We handle these cases on a contingency fee basis — you owe nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Call 302.655.2599 or contact us online for a free, confidential consultation.
By Morris James Mass Torts Attorneys Matthew R. Fogg and Keith E. Donovan
Informed medical decision-making ... depends on knowing not just the benefits of a treatment, but the full picture of its risks.
