Research Roundup: AAAAI/WAO Joint Congress Highlights

We offered a small $750 award for the best-scoring EGID research abstract to help cover the travel cost for the researcher to present findings at the 2025 Joint Congress. We are pleased to announce that fellow-in-training Grant Edland, MD received the award for the abstract “Improvement in Distensibility Is Greater With Dupilumab Compared to Other Treatments in EoE” that showed Dupilumab (a biologics) yields greater improvement in distensibility in pediatric EoE compared to non-dupilumab therapy and can be considered first-line treatment for fibrostenosis (scarring and narrowing as the result of repeated inflammation to tissue).

Dr. Edland presented as an oral abstract as part of the Monday, March 3 session, “Latest on Treatment Outcomes in Food Allergy and Eosinophilic Esophagitis.”

Several sessions specific to eosinophil-associated disease were offered as part of the 2025 Joint Congress as well as industry-sponsored programming. Some of the highlights include:

• Addressing eosinophilic inflammation
• Pediatric hypereosinophilic syndrome
• Strategies for EPGA treatment
• Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease: year in review
• Optimizing transition of care for eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease from pediatric to adult
• Functional lumen imaging probe in EoE
• Esophageal vs non-esophageal eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases: similarities and differences
• Triggers and drivers of severe asthma, severe and difficult-to-control asthma and biologics in pediatric asthma

The International Eosinophil Society (IES) hosted a session titled “Emerging Classes of Eosinophil-Directed Precision Therapy: Current and Future Usage and Development.” This session focused on the latest advancements in precision therapies targeting eosinophils, discussing both current applications and future developments in the field.

A number of research studies were presented at the meeting, both orally and in the poster hall. A few of the highlights are below. To browse all abstracts, visit https://www.jacionline.org/programs_abstracts.

Life with EoE Research

Two posters at the 2025 Joint Congress showcased results of a study conducted in collaboration with APFED and Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) to better understand the patient journey and current state of EoE care in the United States. The project involved surveys and interviews with patients and caregivers and a survey of healthcare providers from various disciplines of medicine.

1. Poster 1: Treatment Adherence in Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE): Patient, caregiver, and clinician perspectives. Survey responses from allergists and immunologists highlights the critical role of collaboration with gastroenterologists in treating EoE. However, patient adherence remains a major challenge, with 76% of clinicians citing it as a key issue. While 87% report strong adherence to pharmacological treatments, only 40% see the same for diet therapy. Additionally, 64% of patients and caregivers find diet management difficult, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary care and strategies to improve adherence. Learn more.

Hannah Jaffee, Mary Jo Strobel, Joy Chang, MD, Mark Holbreich, MD, Jonathan Medernach, MD, Sanaz Eftekhari, Matthew Greenhawt, MD

2. Poster 2: Seeking Care for Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE): Patients see multiple providers for EoE. Multidisciplinary care is common in EoE management, yet gaps remain—only 62% of patients see an allergist, and just 15% visit a dietitian. With diet playing a key role in treatment and EoE’s psychosocial impact, enhancing care models among specialists could improve outcomes and reduce redundancy. Learn more.

Hannah Jaffee, Mary Jo Strobel, Joy Chang, MD, Mark Holbreich, MD, Jonathan Medernach, MD, Sanaz Eftekhari, Matthew Greenhawt, MD

Dupilumab Efficacy in Adolescents and Adults with Eosinophilic Esophagitis With and Without Concurrent Elimination Diet: Post Hoc Analysis of LIBERTY EoE TREET at 52 Weeks

A study found that adolescents and adults with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) experienced significant improvements when treated with dupilumab, regardless of adherence to food elimination diets. The absolute mean changes in Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire scores were comparable between those practicing food elimination and those who were not. This suggests that dupilumab’s efficacy in treating EoE is independent of dietary modifications. Learn more.

Antonella Cianferoni, Kathryn Peterson, Eric Low, Changming Xia, PhD, Tiffany Pela, Bram Raphael, Juby Jacob-Nara, Amr Radwa, MD, MB BChir

Baseline Characteristics Associated with Multicomponent Clinical Remission Following Dupilumab Treatment in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Asthma

A post hoc analysis of the 52-week phase 3 LIBERTY ASTHMA QUEST study assessed 1,530 patients with moderate to severe asthma to determine if baseline characteristics influenced clinical remission with dupilumab. The analysis revealed that higher baseline blood eosinophil counts and elevated fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels were associated with increased odds of achieving clinical remission. Learn more.

Giorgio Canonica, Luis Pérez de Llano, Ian Pavord, Simon Couillard, Celeste Porsbjerg, Guy Brusselle, Mario Castro, MD, MPH, Anju Peters, MD, MSCI, FAAAAI, Arnaud Bourdin, MD, Arman Altincatal, Jason Kwah, Olivier Ledanois

High Incidence and Prevalence of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in the USA Identified: An Analysis of US Health Insurance Claims Data

A recent retrospective study indicates that the incidence and prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in the United States have risen more than previously estimated. The study found that EoE is more common among individuals aged 18 to 64 compared to those younger or older. These findings underscore the growing need for effective management strategies for EoE across diverse age groups. Learn more.

Matthew Greenhawt, MD MBA MSc FAAAAI, Priya Bansal, MD, FAAAAI, Bridgett Goodwin, Siddhi Korgaonkar, PhD, Yiyan Liu, PhD, Juliana Meyers, MA, Carolyn Schaeffer-Koziol, Eric Shah, MD, MBA, Brian Terreri, PharmD, Evan Dellon, MD

Mepolizumab Reduces Need for Repeat Sinus Surgeries in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps

In Phase III of the SYNAPSE trial researchers found that mepolizumab significantly reduces the risk of repeat sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Read related press release.

Effect Of Randomized Treatment Withdrawal of Budesonide Oral Suspension On The Durability of Dysphagia Symptom Improvement In Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Post Hoc Analysis of A Phase 3, 36-Week Trial

Researchers looked at how stopping budesonide oral suspension (BOS) treatment might affect how long the improvement in swallowing difficulties lasts for people with eosinophilic esophagitis. Of the 48 people studied, 25% maintained dysphagia symptom improvement. An average of 8.4 weeks was observed between BOS withdrawal and dysphagia symptom relapse. This suggests that for some patients, symptom improvements following 12 weeks of BOS therapy can be maintained after treatment is stopped. Link to research.

Priya Bansal, MD, Evan Dellon, MD, David Katzka, MD, Gary Falk, MD, Vincent Mukkada, MD, Brian Terreri, PharmD, Carolyn Schaeffer-Koziol, Jessamyn Blau, Cristian Gugiu, Bridgett Goodwin, Muna Tahir

Two-Year Efficacy and Safety of Benralizumab for the Treatment of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

In this study, patients who completed the 52-week double-blind period of the MANDARA trial were invited to enter the open label extension during which they continued benralizumab or switched from mepolizumab to benralizumab. In this study, the patients with EGPA receiving benralizumab, had sustained improvements over two years regarding remission rates, oral glucocorticoids discontinuation, and baseline eosinophil depletion, with low relapse rates. Read the full abstract.

Michael Wechsler, MD, Parameswaran Nair, Nader Khalidi, Benjamin Terrier, Bernhard Hellmich, Arnaud Bourdin, David Jayne, David Jackson, Florence Roufosse, Christian Pagnoux, Ulrich Specks, Lena Börjesson Sjö, Calvin Ho, Maria Jison, Christopher McCrae, Sofia Necander, Eva Rodríguez-Suarez, Anat Shavit, Claire Walton, Peter Merkel.

APFED attended the EGID Task Force committee meeting (a special interest group of the AAAAI) and the AAAAI Lay Organization meeting at 2025 Joint Congress. These meetings gave us the opportunity to share and discuss advocacy initiatives APFED has embarked on, most recently encouraging full federal funding of medical research in the U.S. and protections for our community members who rely on Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for reasonable accommodations. We also shared advances in disease awareness and education.

APFED hosted a booth in the conference’s Exhibit Hall to provide healthcare providers with free print and digital resources to help their patients better understand and manage eosinophil-associated disease. Our booth saw great engagement, with attendees expressing their gratitude for the important work we do.