Nemolizumab Shows Durable Patient-Reported Benefits at 100 Weeks in PN

Long-term treatment with nemolizumab continues to deliver clinically meaningful improvements in itch, sleep, and quality of life for patients with prurigo nodularis (PN), according to interim results from the open-label extension (OLYMPIA-LTE) study presented by Dr. Elke Weisshaar et al at the 2025 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.

The analysis included 508 adults with moderate-to-severe PN who previously completed Phase 2a or Phase 3 trials. By Week 100, more than 90% of evaluable patients experienced a ≥4-point improvement in Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS), Sleep Disturbance NRS (SD-NRS), or Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Additionally, more than 70% of patients reached "super response" thresholds, defined as PP-NRS or SD-NRS scores <2 or DLQI 0/1.

Patients were divided into two cohorts: those who continued nemolizumab treatment from the lead-in trials, and those who initiated it upon entering the LTE phase. Improvements in itch and sleep disturbance scores were rapid and sustained, with median scores dropping to near or below 1 on both NRS measures by Week 100. Median DLQI also declined to 1.0, reflecting minimal disease impact on quality of life.

The safety profile at Week 100 remained consistent with earlier findings. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were mild infections such as COVID-19, nasopharyngitis, and upper respiratory tract infections. No new safety signals were identified.

“These results reinforce nemolizumab’s sustained benefit across core symptoms of PN, including chronic itch and sleep disruption, while maintaining long-term safety,” the authors concluded.