Nemolizumab may be effective at itch reduction in patients with prurigo nodularis, according to a report from Healio. In the phase III Olympia 2 trial—presented by Ständer et al at the 25th WCD—researchers randomly assigned 183 patients to receive nemolizumab and 91 patients to receive placebo. After 4 weeks of follow-up, 19.7% of patients who received nemolizumab vs 2.2% of patients who received placebo achieved an itch-free state. Further, the researchers noted that those who took the agent may have demonstrated improved quality of sleep as a result of reduced itchiness. After 16 weeks of follow-up, the researchers reported that 56.3% of the patients in the nemolizumab group had 4-point or higher improvements on their peak pruritus numeric rating scale vs 20.9% of those in the placebo group. Further, there were no significant statistical differences in adverse events between both groups. The researchers concluded that nemolizumab was safe and effective for patients with prurigo nodularis and that the study findings strengthened their understanding of the mechanisms contributing to itchiness.
July 13, 2023