HCPLive Five at ACAAI 2025

At the 2025 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) Annual Scientific Meeting in Orlando, leading clinicians from UT Health Houston, the University of Alberta, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and community allergy practices presented pivotal updates in asthma, immunology, dermatology, and anaphylaxis care. This HCPLive Five highlights emerging data across eosinophilic disorders, chronic rhinosinusitis, hereditary angioedema (HAE), anaphylaxis management, and atopic dermatitis, each offering clinicians new insights into rapidly evolving therapeutic landscapes.

Benralizumab Reduces HES Flare in Phase 3 Trial, With Princess Ogbogu, MD

Benralizumab significantly reduced flare events and fatigue in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), according to phase 3 NATRON results presented at ACAAI 2025. In an interview with HCPLive, Princess Ogbogu, MD, of the University of Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, highlighted the therapy’s impact on time to first flare, annualized flare rates, and hematologic relapse, noting patients on benralizumab did significantly better than those on placebo. Improvements in PROMIS Fatigue scores emerged by week 4. Safety findings aligned with prior benralizumab data, with mostly mild adverse events.

Dupilumab Shows Promise for Allergic Fungal Rhinosinusitis in Phase 3 Trial, With Amber Luong, MD, PhD

Dupilumab demonstrated strong efficacy for allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) in the phase 3 LIBERTY AIMS trial, offering a potential new option for this challenging CRSwNP subtype. Amber Luong, MD, PhD, from UT Health Houston, presented data at ACAAI 2025 showing significant improvements in sinus opacification, nasal polyp size, and congestion by weeks 24 and 52, with dupilumab reducing the need for oral steroids or surgery by 92%. The year-long study enrolled 62 rigorously diagnosed patients and met all primary and secondary endpoints. Safety findings aligned with dupilumab’s known profile.

Sebetralstat Shows Promise for On-Demand HAE Treatment in Children, With Adil Adatia, MD

Adil Adatia, MD, from the University of Alberta, presented interim KONFIDENT-KID findings showing that oral sebetralstat safely and rapidly reduced symptoms of hereditary angioedema (HAE) attacks in children aged 2 - 11 years. The oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor, already approved for patients ≥12, was administered within 30 minutes of symptom onset, with a median time to first improvement of four hours. No treatment-emergent adverse events were reported, and pharmacokinetic data aligned with adult studies. Adatia emphasized the promise of a fast-dissolving oral option for young children, noting its potential to replace challenging IV therapies and transform timely, at-home pediatric HAE management.

Sublingual Epinephrine Film Rapidly Works in Children, With David Golden, MD

David Golden, MD, from Johns Hopkins, presented phase 1 data showing that AQST-109 (Anaphylm), a sublingual epinephrine film, rapidly reaches therapeutic levels in children, triggering cardiovascular effects within 2 minutes. In 32 participants aged 7 – 17 years, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics closely mirrored adult findings, with therapeutic plasma levels achieved by 5 - 8 minutes and peak concentrations at 10 minutes. Heart rate and blood pressure rose early, confirming fast onset. Golden emphasized that the needle-free film performed comparably to adult data and may offer an effective alternative to intranasal and injectable epinephrine options for children at risk of severe allergic reactions.

Tapinarof Shows Early, Sustained Benefits in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis, With Druhan Howell, MD

Druhan Howell, MD, a pediatrics-trained allergist practicing in Mobile, Alabama, highlighted sub-analysis data from the ADORING 1 and 2 trials showing that 1% tapinarof cream delivers early, sustained benefits in children aged 2–17 with atopic dermatitis (AD). Across 654 pediatric patients, including those with asthma, allergic rhinitis, or food allergies, tapinarof improved skin clearance, eczema severity, itch, sleep, and overall symptom burden as early as week 1, with effects maintained through week 8. EASI-75 and vIGA-AD™ response rates were significantly higher than vehicle, regardless of comorbidities. Safety was consistent with prior findings, with no new signals.