Dupixent (Dupilumab) and Cutaneous T Cell Lymphoma: What the Research Shows
Researchers and the FDA are examining a possible connection between the biologic medicine Dupixent and cutaneous T cell lymphoma. This page summarizes the current science in plain language. It is general information, not medical advice, and it does not claim that Dupixent is proven to cause cancer.
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What Dupixent Is
Dupixent (dupilumab) is an injectable biologic developed by Regeneron and Sanofi. It blocks the activity of two immune proteins, IL 4 and IL 13, that drive type 2 inflammation. It was first approved in 2017 for moderate to severe eczema (atopic dermatitis) and is now approved for several other inflammatory conditions, including asthma, nasal polyps, eosinophilic esophagitis, prurigo nodularis, and others.
The Scientific Theory
The leading hypothesis is that by blocking one receptor, Dupixent can leave more free IL 13 available to act on a different receptor that the drug does not block, a receptor that is overexpressed in CTCL and may help tumor cells grow. A second hypothesis is that Dupixent does not cause CTCL but unmasks a hidden CTCL that had been misdiagnosed and treated as eczema. Researchers continue to study both ideas.
What the Studies Report
- A 2024 cohort study in Dermatologic Therapy reported a roughly 4.59 fold higher relative risk of CTCL in dupilumab treated eczema patients compared with eczema patients who did not use the drug.
- A 2024 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported about a 4.1 fold higher odds of CTCL after dupilumab use.
- A 2025 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found a very strong disproportionate reporting signal for CTCL in the FDA adverse event database and offered a possible biological mechanism.
- Several systematic reviews and case reports describe CTCL appearing or worsening after starting dupilumab.
What the FDA Has Done
The FDA added Dupixent and cutaneous T cell lymphoma to its quarterly list of Potential Signals of Serious Risks and stated it is evaluating the need for regulatory action. The FDA notes that appearing on this list does not mean a causal relationship has been established.
An Honest Caveat
Some researchers caution that the link is not yet proven. Eczema patients may already have higher baseline CTCL risk, early CTCL is easily mistaken for eczema, and certain benign skin reactions to the drug can resemble lymphoma. This is why each potential case must be reviewed individually.
Attorney advertising. General information only, not medical or legal advice. No claim is made that Dupixent is proven to cause cancer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.