Business Wire

GALDERMA

Share
AAD 2023: Late-Breaking Phase III Results Demonstrate nemolizumab’s Significant Impact on Prurigo Nodularis

Galderma, the leading company solely dedicated to advancing the future of dermatology, today premiered the positive phase III results from the OLYMPIA 2 trial evaluating the efficacy, safety, pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of nemolizumab compared with placebo in adult patients with prurigo nodularis. The results were presented as a late-breaking presentation at the 2023 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting by Dr. Shawn Kwatra, Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Galderma has an extensive presence at the meeting with further updates from its broad portfolio across Therapeutic Dermatology, Dermatological Skincare and Injectable Aesthetics.

The phase III OLYMPIA 2 trial met all primary endpoints, showing nemolizumab monotherapy significantly improved pruritus (itch) and skin lesions compared with placebo in adult patients with moderate to severe prurigo nodularis. Results showed that:

  • 56 percent of nemolizumab-treated patients achieved a response in itch intensity, as defined by an at least 4-point improvement in peak-pruritus numerical rating scale (PP-NRS) score, compared to 21 percent in the placebo group (p<0.0001)
  • 38 percent of nemolizumab-treated patients reached treatment success in skin lesions, as defined by an investigator’s global assessment (IGA) score of 0 or 1, compared to 11 percent in the placebo group (p<0.0001)

Key secondary endpoints showed rapid onset of action and significant improvements in itch and sleep disturbance (p<0.0001) as early as week 4:

  • Over five times as many patients in the nemolizumab group vs placebo achieved significant and clinically meaningful improvement in itch intensity, as defined by a 4-point improvement in PP-NRS - (41.0% for nemolizumab vs 7.7% for placebo p<0.0001)
  • Nearly four times as many patients in the nemolizumab group versus placebo achieved significant and clinically meaningful improvement in sleep disturbance as measured by a 4-point improvement in sleep disturbance numerical rating scale (SD-NRS) - (37.2% for nemolizumab vs 9.9% for placebo p<0.0001)
  • The safety profile was consistent with the phase II trial results

“OLYMPIA 2 is a key piece of the largest phase III clinical development program ever undertaken in prurigo nodularis to date. On behalf of my co-investigators worldwide, I am honored and proud to present the study results to the scientific community in a late-breaking presentation. The results confirm the potential of this every four weeks injectable monoclonal antibody targeting the IL-31 receptor alpha, with rapidly acting effects on itch and sleep disturbance, and subsequent improvement of skin lesions.”

SHAWN KWATRA, M.D.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF DERMATOLOGY
JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

Further commitment to diversity in dermatology announced
Also at the congress, Galderma shared an exciting update on the sponsorship of the Atlas initiative, in a highly anticipated booth session focused on Diversity and Inclusion in Dermatology. The unique educational session explored how to diagnose dermatologic conditions in an array of skin tones, leveraging the renowned book and online gallery ‘Full Spectrum of Dermatology: A Diverse and Inclusive Atlas’, from the George Washington University School of Medicine. The event took place on Friday, March 17 and was hosted by editors of the Atlas, Dr. Adam Friedman and Dr. Misty Eleryan. As part of the Galderma sponsorship, copies of the Atlas book are being distributed throughout the AAD congress. Galderma is also proud to be providing an additional financial grant to pilot a pathway for other healthcare professionals to contribute to the online gallery.

“We are so pleased that we’re able to bring so much powerful new data to this year’s AAD congress. The data premiere from OLYMPIA 2 confirms the potential that nemolizumab is expected to improve outcomes for people with prurigo nodularis, which can have such a profound impact on the lives of those affected. Beyond this, our continued involvement and investment in the Atlas program demonstrates our commitment to address every skin need, with diversity and inclusion at the very heart of that promise.”

BALDO SCASSELLATI SFORZOLINI, M.D., Ph.D.
GLOBAL HEAD OF R&D
GALDERMA

Extensive updates from Galderma’s broad and innovative portfolio through posters and presentation sessions
Galderma is the only pure-play dermatology category leader, with more than 40 years of heritage in dermatology. Its continued commitment to delivering science and innovation across a highly differentiated portfolio is reflected in its extensive presence at AAD. More details on Galderma’s scientific poster presentations can be found here.

About the OLYMPIA 2 trial
OLYMPIA 2 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial, to assess the efficacy and safety of nemolizumab monotherapy compared with placebo in patients at least 18 years of age with prurigo nodularis after a 16-week treatment period. The trial also assessed pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of nemolizumab compared to placebo. OLYMPIA 2 included 274 patients with moderate-to-severe prurigo nodularis.

About prurigo nodularis
Prurigo nodularis is a debilitating, chronic skin condition with thick skin nodules covering large body areas and associated intense itch.1,2,3 Prurigo nodularis affects an estimated 72 per 100,000 adults aged 18-64 years in the United States, primarily middle-aged women and disproportionately people of African descent.1,4

About nemolizumab
Nemolizumab is an investigational drug and Galderma has not received approval for any indication in any country. Nemolizumab is a first-in-class investigational monoclonal antibody directed against the IL-31 receptor alpha that blocks signaling from IL-31. IL-31 is a neuroimmune cytokine that is recognized as driving multiple disease mechanisms in both prurigo nodularis and atopic dermatitis. With its unique role in directly stimulating sensory neurons related to itch and contributing to inflammation and barrier dysfunction, IL-31 is the bridge between the immune and nervous systems while also directly acting on structural cells in the skin. Nemolizumab was granted Breakthrough Therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2019 for the treatment of pruritus associated with prurigo nodularis, a status reconfirmed in February 2023.

About Galderma
Galderma is the pure-play dermatology category leader, present in approximately 90 countries. We deliver an innovative, science-based portfolio of premium flagship brands and services that span the full spectrum of the fast-growing dermatology market through Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Since our foundation in 1981, we have dedicated our focus and passion to the human body’s largest organ – the skin – meeting individual consumer and patient needs with superior outcomes in partnership with healthcare professionals. Because we understand that the skin we’re in shapes our lives, we are advancing dermatology for every skin story. Galderma’s portfolio of flagship brands includes Restylane®, Dysport®, Azzalure®, Alluzience® and Sculptra® in Injectable Aesthetics; Soolantra®, Epiduo®, Differin®, Aklief®, Epsolay®, Twyneo®, Oracea®, Metvix®, Benzac® and Loceryl® in Therapeutic Dermatology; and Cetaphil® and Alastin® in Dermo-cosmetics. For more information, visit www.galderma.com.

References:

1 Williams KA, Roh YS, Brown I, et al. Pathophysiology, diagnosis, and pharmacological treatment of prurigo nodularis. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2021;14(1):67-77. doi:10.1080/17512433.2021.1852080
2 Elmariah S, Kim B, Berger T, et al. Practical approaches for diagnosis and management of prurigo nodularis: United States expert panel consensus. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2021;84(3):747-760. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2020.07.025
3 Whang KA, Mahadevan V, Bakhshi PR, et al. Prevalence of prurigo nodularis in the United States. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(9):3240-3241. doi:10.1016/j.jaip.2020.05.051
4 Huang AH, Canner JK, Khanna R, Kang S, Kwatra SG. Real-world prevalence of prurigo nodularis and burden of associated diseases. J Invest Dermatol. 2020;140(2):480-483.e4. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2019.07.697

To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230318005017/en/

About Business Wire

Business Wire
Business Wire
101 California Street, 20th Floor
CA 94111 San Francisco

http://businesswire.com
DK

Subscribe to releases from Business Wire

Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Latest releases from Business Wire

Canva Launches Creative Operating System30.10.2025 18:00:00 CET | Press release

Next era of Canva combines a supercharged Visual Suite, world-first design AI, and powerful tools to grow your brand Canva Design Model: World-first AI model that understands complexities and ingredients of design. AI Where You Work: Bring your imagination to life in every part of the design process, plus, a new design assistant. Video 2.0: A reimagined video editor makes professional and engaging content effortless. Canva Grow: Powerful marketing engine to ideate, create, distribute, and refine engaging ads to scale your brand. All-New Affinity: All-in-one app built by pro designers for pro designers, now forever free. Forms: Design interactive forms that can be added to any design for everything from RSVP forms to contact pages. Email Design: Design engaging emails with Canva’s drag-and-drop editor, then export to your platform of choice. Canva Code in Sheets: Seamlessly link interactive widgets with Canva Sheets to bring data to life in real time. Canva, the world’s only all-in-one

Svante Celebrates 18 Years of Carbon Management Innovation with Historic Milestones in 202530.10.2025 17:25:00 CET | Press release

Svante Technologies Inc. (Svante), a global leader in carbon capture and removal solutions, proudly marks its 18th anniversary this month, celebrating nearly two decades of pioneering industrial carbon management technology. This year has been one of the most transformative in Svante’s history, defined by bold innovation, strategic partnerships, and the commissioning of the world’s first commercial manufacturing facility for solid sorbent-based carbon capture and removal filters. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251030974500/en/ Founded in 2007 with a vision to revolutionize how the world manages carbon dioxide emissions, Svante has grown into a cornerstone of the global carbon management industry. In 2025, that vision took a monumental leap forward with the launch of the Redwood Facility in Burnaby, BC — a 141,000-square-foot Centre of Excellence for Carbon Capture and Removal. This first-of-its-kind manufactu

Ireland Unveils Seven New Halloween Experiences30.10.2025 15:00:00 CET | Press release

More celebrations than ever across the island of Ireland – the true Home of Halloween With seven brand-new Halloween hubs or experiences launching across the island this month, Ireland has truly become the ultimate destination to celebrate Halloween in 2025. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251022209535/en/ Derry Halloween Festival, County Derry~Londonderry Ireland’s Halloween Season Rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, Halloween originated in Ireland more than 2,000 years ago and, this year, the island of Ireland is expanding its celebration like never before. With over 340 events planned across the island to celebrate this year, Halloween in Ireland is fast becoming a bucket-list travel experience. Seven new Halloween hubs join existing flagship events across the island of Ireland including the Púca Festival in County Meath and Derry Halloween in Derry-Londonderry which together welcomed over 169

Staloral® Birch Phase III Study Successfully Meets Primary Endpoint, Demonstrating Efficacy in Children and Adolescents30.10.2025 14:56:00 CET | Press release

Stallergenes Greer, a global leader in allergy therapeutics, announced today that its Phase IIIb clinical study (YOBI, YOung patients and BIrch allergy), designed to confirm the safety and efficacy of Staloral® Birch in children and adolescents with birch pollen-induced allergic rhino-conjunctivitis (ARC), with or without asthma, has successfully achieved its primary endpoint. The trial enrolled 553 children aged 5 -17 years with moderate to severe birch pollen-induced ARC, with or without asthma, across 64 sites in 12 European countries and assessed the efficacy and safety of Staloral® birch 300IR daily maintenance dose administered pre-and co-seasonally over two consecutive birch pollen seasons. The YOBI study successfully met its primary endpoint, demonstrating the efficacy of Staloral® Birch in a paediatric population (5-17) with a 41% improvement in the ARC total combined score during the second pollen season compared to placebo. These results were highly statistically significant

Debiopharm Forges AI-powered Alliance With NetTargets to Pioneer Dual-payload ADCs Against Drug-resistant Cancers30.10.2025 14:00:00 CET | Press release

An Alliance to Combat Resistance: Debiopharm and NetTargets will collaborate to develop next-generation, dual-payload Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) designed to overcome acquired resistance mechanisms in difficult-to-treat cancers. AI-Powered Precision: The collaboration combines NetTargets' proprietary AI discovery platform—to identify synergistic drug pairings—with Debiopharm’s MLINK Duo technology for coordinated delivery of two distinct warheads on a single ADC. Debiopharm (www.debiopharm.com), a privately-owned, Swiss-based, biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing innovative therapies that respond to high unmet medical needs, today announced a strategic research collaboration with NetTargets (www.net-targets.com), a South Korean biotech company specializing in AI-enhanced systems biology for drug discovery, to rationally design and advance the discovery of novel, synergistic drug combinations for Debiopharm’s next-generation Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs). This allianc

In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.

Visit our pressroom
World GlobeA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.HiddenA line styled icon from Orion Icon Library.Eye