Shawn Kwatra, MD, dermatologist, John Hopkins University, discusses late breaking study results on the long-term efficacy and safety of nemolizumab in patients with prurigo nodularis (PN).
This content was produced independently by The American Journal of Managed Care® and is not endorsed by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Purirgo nodularis (PN) is a chronic skin disorder that is characterized as multiple, firm, flesh to pink colored papules, plaques, and nodules commonly located on the extensor surfaces of the extremities. The lesions are very pruritic and can occur in any age group, according to the NIH.
The study found patients treated with nemolizumab experienced significant improvements in itch, skin lesions, sleep disturbance, and quality of life up to 52 weeks, says Shawn Kwatra, MD, dermatologist, John Hopkins University.
Transcript
Can you provide an overview of the key findings from the interim analysis of the OLYMPIA study regarding the long-term efficacy of nemolizumab in patients with PN?
[In] the nemolizumab long-term extension study, the interim cut that we're seeing today was 52 weeks. And in that 52-week study, we wanted to assess safety and efficacy. Regarding efficacy, 90% of patients achieved a 4-point improvement in their itch. Actually, two thirds of patients were in a relative itch-free state by week 52. There was also very significant improvement in skin lesions. So, 65% to 70% of patients reached an IGA [Investigator Global Assessment] 0 or 1, which denotes clear or almost clear skin by week 52. So significant activity itch, incredible skin findings. And then also, the safety data was consistent with that and earlier phase 3 studies.
What specific measures of efficacy were assessed in the study, and how do the results compare to those observed in previous clinical trials of nemolizumab for patients with PN?
The endpoints that were assess were related to itch, skin lesions, and effects on quality of life and sleep disturbance. And for itch, 90% of patients had a 4-point improvement in their itch, two thirds of patients reaching itch-free state, but it was fast. So, in the group that had never received nemolizumab before, took about 4 weeks for these patients to already have a significant portion of them having a 4-point improvement in their itch. So, that itch relief was very rapid.
There was similarly improved sleep. And so, the metrics for sleep mirrored the metrics of improvement for itch, and then also quality of life was very significantly improved. So, we have this metric for our quality of life index in dermatology, the DLQI [Dermatology Life Quality Index]. And over 50% of patients had a DLQI 0 to 1, which is no impact or minimal impact, and 90% of patients had a 4-point improvement. So, very significant improvement across metrics, itch, skin lesions, sleep disturbance, as well as quality of life.
STEER Data Open Door to SMA Gene Therapy for Wider Age Range of Children
March 19th 2025Delivery of onasemnogene abeparvovec into the intrathecal space was safe and effective for children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) aged 2 to 17 years, who had previously been shut out of receiving gene therapy.
Read More
Navigating Sport-Related Neurospine Injuries, Surgery, and Managed Care
February 25th 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Arthur L. Jenkins III, MD, FACS, CEO of Jenkins NeuroSpine, to explore the intersection of advanced surgical care for sport-related neurospine injuries and managed care systems.
Listen
Neurologists Share Tips for Securing Patient Access to Gene Therapies
March 19th 2025Tenacious efforts at every level, from the individual clinician to the hospital to the state to Congress, will be needed to make sure patients can access life-saving gene therapies for neuromuscular diseases.
Read More
EMBARK Data Show Continued Improvements With DMD Gene Therapy
March 19th 2025Data from the EMBARK trial of delandistrogene moxeparvovec in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) show that benefits in functional outcomes, gene expression, and muscle imaging persist 2 years after receiving the gene therapy.
Read More
How Access to SMA Treatment Varies Globally and by Insurance Type
March 18th 2025Posters presented at the 2025 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical & Scientific Conference show that therapeutic advances in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are not uniformly making it into the hands of patients who could benefit.
Read More
STEER Data Open Door to SMA Gene Therapy for Wider Age Range of Children
March 19th 2025Delivery of onasemnogene abeparvovec into the intrathecal space was safe and effective for children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) aged 2 to 17 years, who had previously been shut out of receiving gene therapy.
Read More
Navigating Sport-Related Neurospine Injuries, Surgery, and Managed Care
February 25th 2025On this episode of Managed Care Cast, we speak with Arthur L. Jenkins III, MD, FACS, CEO of Jenkins NeuroSpine, to explore the intersection of advanced surgical care for sport-related neurospine injuries and managed care systems.
Listen
Neurologists Share Tips for Securing Patient Access to Gene Therapies
March 19th 2025Tenacious efforts at every level, from the individual clinician to the hospital to the state to Congress, will be needed to make sure patients can access life-saving gene therapies for neuromuscular diseases.
Read More
EMBARK Data Show Continued Improvements With DMD Gene Therapy
March 19th 2025Data from the EMBARK trial of delandistrogene moxeparvovec in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) show that benefits in functional outcomes, gene expression, and muscle imaging persist 2 years after receiving the gene therapy.
Read More
How Access to SMA Treatment Varies Globally and by Insurance Type
March 18th 2025Posters presented at the 2025 Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical & Scientific Conference show that therapeutic advances in treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are not uniformly making it into the hands of patients who could benefit.
Read More
2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512