VIDEO: Dupilumab reduces itch, lesions in prurigo nodularis

BOSTON — Patients with Prurigo nodularis experienced significant reductions in itch and skin lesions when treated with dupilumab, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting.

In this video, Gil Yosipovitch, MD, of the University of Miami, discusses results of the phase 3 LIBERTY-PN PRIME2 trial.

“There are actually no drugs that have been approved for prurigo nodularis,” Yosipovitch said during the video. “This is the first phase 3 trial that is focused on this condition.”

In the trial, 160 patients were randomly assigned to receive a 600 mg loading dose of dupilumab (Dupixent, Sanofi/Regeneron) followed by 300 mg every other week for 24 weeks or placebo.

Of those in the treatment group, 37.2% of patients achieved a reduction of at least 4 points on the Worst Itch Numerical Rating Scale at week 12, as compared with 22% of those treated with placebo. That increased to 57.7% of dupilumab-treated patients at week 24, compared with 19.5% of placebo-treated patients.

Investigator Global Assessment PN-Stage scores of 0 or 1 were achieved by 44.9% of dupilumab-treated patients and 15.9% of the placebo group at week 24.

“Results are showing robust anti-pruritic effect on these patients, as well as the lesions that are secondary to scratching, with almost elimination of lesions in patients up to 24 weeks,” Yosipovitch said.

Treatment emergent adverse events occurred in 57.1% of the dupilumab group and 51.2% of the placebo group.