Nemolizumab Sustains AD Response at 3 Years, With Matthias Augustin, MD

Three-year data from the ARCADIA long-term extension (LTE) study show sustained improvements in skin clearance, itch, and quality of life with nemolizumab (Nemluvio) in adults and adolescents with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.¹

ARCADIA investigator Matthias Augustin, MD, a dermatologist, professor of health economics and quality of life research, and director of the Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP) at University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany, presented week 152 findings at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress in Vienna, Austria. The findings extend earlier analyses of long-term treatment with nemolizumab, which inhibits interleukin-31 (IL-31) signaling, a pathway involved in itch and inflammation.^¹,²

"The findings that we present at EADV have a profound impact for practice," Augustin said in an interview with HCPLive. "First of all, because these are data that are comparable with the patients we see in practice. Second, because we have the long-term data, and we now get a good idea of how to manage patients with atopic dermatitis using nemolizumab in the long run, with or without topical steroids."

ARCADIA LTE Design and the IL-31 Mechanism

The open-label ARCADIA LTE is evaluating nemolizumab for up to 200 weeks in patients aged ≥12 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.² Patients rolled over from earlier phase 2 and 3 studies, including the pivotal ARCADIA 1 and ARCADIA 2 trials. They received nemolizumab with background topical corticosteroids, with or without topical calcineurin inhibitors.³

Nemolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits IL-31 signaling. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it for adults with prurigo nodularis. It is also approved for patients aged ≥12 years with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in combination with topical corticosteroids and/or calcineurin inhibitors when the disease is not adequately controlled with topical prescription therapies.²

The study is open label and has no comparator arm, which limits comparisons with other treatments and interpretation of long-term response rates.

Nemolizumab Itch and Sleep Outcomes at Week 152

"In terms of itch, many patients now have normalized or almost no itch. Sleep response rates are also important because sleep, like itch, is one of the major drivers of disease burden. All these criteria or dimensions have been markedly and significantly reduced with nemolizumab over the long term," Augustin said.

In observed-case analyses at week 152, up to 88% of patients achieved clinically meaningful itch relief, while up to 73% were itch-free or nearly itch-free.²

A separate analysis of ARCADIA and OLYMPIA trial data, also presented at EADV, found that sleep disturbance was closely linked to itch intensity and skin lesion severity.²

EASI-90 and Quality of Life Results

At week 152, observed-case analyses showed sustained improvements in skin clearance and quality of life.²

• Skin clearance: Up to 91% of patients achieved ≥75% improvement in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI-75), and up to 75% achieved EASI-90. Up to 67% reached clear or almost clear skin (Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] 0/1).
• Quality of life: Up to 92% achieved clinically meaningful improvement in dermatology-related quality of life.

The reported percentages reflect observed-case analyses; the available results should therefore be interpreted in the context of the study's open-label design and the patients included in each analysis.

Augustin said the findings reinforce the relationship between improvements in skin inflammation and quality of life. When skin disease improves markedly, he said, clinicians can expect quality of life to improve as well. He emphasized the importance of long-term inflammation control for outcomes that matter to patients.

Editor's Note: Augustin reported relevant disclosures with AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beiersdorf, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, and others.

References

1. Silverberg JI, et al. Long-term safety and efficacy (up to 152 weeks) of nemolizumab in ARCADIA open-label long-term extension study in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Presented at EADV 2026; September 30–October 3, 2026; Vienna, Austria.

2. Galderma. EADV 2026: Galderma's new data show sustained improvements with Nemluvio (nemolizumab) for up to three years in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Press release. September 30, 2026.

3. Galderma. EADV 2024 Late Breaking News Sessions: New Galderma data demonstrating nemolizumab's long-term efficacy and safety in atopic dermatitis. Press release. September 24, 2024.