Investigational monoclonal antibody nemolizumab demonstrates rapid onset of action and significant reduction in symptoms for patients with prurigo nodularis (PN) and atopic dermatitis (AD), according to data presented at the virtual 30th EADV congress and reported by Galderma.

A secondary analysis of a phase 2 trial in patients with moderate-to-severe PN show that within 48 hours nemolizumab significantly reduced severe itch over three times more effectively than placebo. A rapid and significant decrease in itch which was maintained for the duration of the study. At Day 4, approximately a quarter of patients were demonstrating strong reduction in severe itch responses to treatment with nemolizumab, compared to no responses for the placebo group. At the 12-week study completion, more than half of PN patients demonstrated a response to nemolizumab treatment.

At Day 4, nemolizumab led to a four times greater improvement in sleep disturbance versus placebo; benefits significantly increased through week 4.

A secondary post-hoc analysis of phase 2b data in adult patients with moderate-to-severe AD recently published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology show that from the first week of treatment, nemolizumab showed a significant improvement in the clinical signs and symptoms of AD, as indicated by SCORAD, increasing through week 16. This early improvement of erythema and excoriation suggests a direct anti-inflammatory effect, whereas improved skin dryness vs placebo could be a consequence of a beneficial effect of nemolizumab on the skin barrier.