Galderma Receives U.S. FDA Approval for Nemluvio
Galderma (SWX:GALD) today announced that the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Nemluvio® (nemolizumab) for the treatment of patients 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, in combination with topical corticosteroids (TCS) and/or calcineurin inhibitors (TCI) when the disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies. This follows the recent U.S. FDA approval of Nemluvio for subcutaneous injection for the treatment of adults with prurigo nodularis in August 2024.
Atopic dermatitis affects more than 230 million people worldwide, impacting approximately 7% of people in the U.S.2-4 Often reported as one of patients’ most problematic symptoms, 87% of people with atopic dermatitis say they are seeking freedom from itch, with speed of itch relief therefore also prioritized by both patients and physicians.13-16 Atopic dermatitis is also a highly heterogenous disease and can be associated with several comorbid conditions, namely mental health disorders and other autoimmune- or immune-mediated diseases.2,13,17-19 For this reason, there remains a need for more novel, effective treatment options, as while currently available treatments for atopic dermatitis may improve some signs and symptoms, many patients do not respond optimally to approved therapies and do not experience itch relief and clear skin to the same degree.2,5-7 Nemluvio is the first approved monoclonal antibody that specifically targets IL-31 receptor alpha, inhibiting the signaling of IL-31.8 IL-31 is a neuroimmune cytokine that drives itch and is involved in inflammation and epidermal dysregulation in atopic dermatitis.
This approval is based on positive results from the phase III ARCADIA clinical trial program which evaluated the efficacy and safety of Nemluvio in combination with background TCS, with or without TCI, versus placebo in combination with TCS, with or without TCI, in 1,728 patients aged 12 years or older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.20
Results demonstrated that patients treated with Nemluvio, administered subcutaneously every four weeks in combination with TCS, with or without TCI, showed statistically significant improvements on skin clearance in both co-primary endpoints. These were clearance (0) or almost-clearance (1) of skin lesions when assessed using the investigator’s global assessment (IGA) score, and achieving a 75% reduction in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) – when compared to placebo in combination with TCS, with or without TCI, after 16 weeks of treatment.20
The trials also met all key secondary endpoints confirming significant responses on itch as early as Week 1, and statistically significant improvements in sleep disturbance with Nemluvio in combination with TCS, with or without TCI, when compared to placebo in combination with TCS, with or without TCI.20 Overall, Nemluvio was well tolerated, and the safety profile was generally consistent between Nemluvio and placebo groups.
The FDA also approved Nemluvio as a pre-filled pen for subcutaneous injection for the treatment of adults with prurigo nodularis in August 2024.12
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) adopted a positive opinion on December 12, 2024, recommending the approval of nemolizumab in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of both atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis.21 The positive opinion will now be reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to approve medicines in all 27 EU member states as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
Galderma also has marketing authorization applications for nemolizumab in both atopic dermatitis and prurigo nodularis under review by multiple additional regulatory authorities, including via the Access Consortium framework in countries such as Australia, Singapore, and Switzerland, as well as in Canada, Brazil, and South Korea.22 Further submissions to other regulatory authorities will continue in 2025.
As previously communicated, peak sales of nemolizumab are expected to reach more than 2 billion USD (expected beyond the 2023-2027 mid-term guidance period). Galderma anticipates nemolizumab to approach ‘blockbuster’ net sales run-rate by the end of 2027.
Last Updated on 1 week by News Desk 1
