Real-World RELIEVE-PN Data Show Sustained Itch and Skin Pain Improvements With Dupilumab
Key Takeaways
- In RELIEVE-PN, dupilumab initiators reported improvements in itch, skin pain, and burning or stinging/tingling symptoms through 9 months.
- At month 9, 50.7% of respondents achieved a ≥4-point improvement in worst itch; among those continuing dupilumab at each survey, 54.9% did so.
- Findings come from a prospective, observational patient survey without a comparator group; attrition limits interpretation.
Adults with prurigo nodularis (PN) who initiated dupilumab reported reductions in itch, skin pain, and burning or stinging/tingling symptoms as early as 1 month, with improvements maintained through 9 months, according to a real-world analysis presented at the 2026 Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference.1
The ongoing RELIEVE-PN study is a prospective, longitudinal survey of adults with PN recruited through a US dupilumab patient support program. Participants had not previously received dupilumab and began treatment within 8 weeks of their baseline survey. The analysis included 218 treatment initiators, whose mean age was 57 years; 77.5% were women.
Patient-Reported Outcomes Through Month 9
Participants rated symptoms experienced during the preceding 7 days using 0-to-10 numeric rating scales at baseline and months 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9. Investigators compared follow-up scores with baseline using generalized estimating equations and separately assessed patients who continued dupilumab at each survey.
In the overall population, mean worst itch scores decreased from 7.6 at baseline to 4.4 at month 9. Average itch decreased from 6.3 to 3.3, skin pain from 4.9 to 2.6, and skin burning or stinging/tingling from 5.3 to 2.9. Improvements in itch and skin pain were statistically significant at every follow-up (P < .001).
The proportion achieving a clinically meaningful reduction of at least 4 points in worst itch increased from 23.0% at month 1 to 50.7% at month 9. Among patients continuing dupilumab at each survey, the corresponding percentages were 22.9% and 54.9%. The overall number of survey respondents declined to 136 by month 9, and the continuing-treatment subgroup declined to 102.
The investigators concluded that patients initiating dupilumab in routine practice experienced improvements in itch, skin pain, and burning or stinging/tingling from month 1 through month 9.
1. Kwatra SG, Thomas RB, Noonan K, et al. Dupilumab improves itch and skin pain in patients with prurigo nodularis: 9-month results from the RELIEVE-PN study. Poster presented at: 26th Annual Fall Clinical Dermatology Conference; October 8-11, 2026; Las Vegas, NV.