Sanofi’s Dupixent (dupilumab), a severe atopic dermatitis (AD) treatment covered by health insurance in people aged 18 or more, should become reimbursable for adolescents, too, a petition on Cheong Wa Dae said.

Dupixent is the only biologic agent that can treat severe AD. In addition, it proved therapeutic effect and safety in adults as well as adolescents.

However, the treatment without health insurance coverage costs about 25 million won ($21,090) annually, putting heavy financial burdens on adolescent patients.

In January last year, the government granted reimbursement for Dupixent in adults with severe AD.

However, adolescent patients should pay the full cost of the drug.

On Tuesday, a petitioner on the website of Cheong Wa Dae demanded the government allow Dupixent reimbursement for adolescent patients.

The petitioner said she was a mother of a 12-year-old child suffering from severe AD who has been receiving AD treatment for seven years.

“I applied steroids to the child covered with blood and ooze and covered the whole body with wet dressings. I held my child in frustration and just cried because I felt so sorry,” the petitioner wrote.

She went on to say that there were times when her child was admitted to a hospital’s sterilization room because a new virus penetrated the atopic wounds.

“The psychological pain my child is going through is indescribable. There were many times I wanted to give up and thought it would be better if I died with the child rather than comforting the child who asks why this was happening to me,” the petitioner said.

Dupixent costs more than 400,000 won per shot and over 20 million won a year for adolescent patients, while it costs less than 10 million won for adults aged 18 or more, she said.

“Please expand Dupixent reimbursement to adolescents who suffer from severe AD,” she added.