510 - Dupilumab is efficacious in patients with prurigo nodularis regardless of stable use of topical corticosteroids and topical calcineurin inhibitors: pooled results from two phase 3 trials (LIBERTY-PN PRIME and PRIME2)
Authors: Kim Brian S , Yosipovitch Gil , Kwatra Shawn G , Ständer Sonja , Mollanazar Nicholas , Shi Genming , Bansal Ashish , Makhija Melanie 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Prurigo nodularis (PN) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by severely itchy skin nodules, which substantially affects quality of life. Although topical treatments are frequently prescribed, these therapies are limited by insufficient demonstrated evidence for efficacy, and/or associated side effects.

Objectives
This study reports the effect of dupilumab on pruritus, skin lesions, and quality of life in patients with PN, with or without stable use of topical corticosteroids (TCS) and/or topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCI), in an analysis of pooled data from two phase 3 trials.

Materials & Methods
LIBERTY-PN PRIME (NCT04183335) and PRIME2 (NCT04202679) were two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 24-week studies. Adults with PN inadequately controlled by topical prescription therapies, or for whom those therapies are inadvisable, were randomized 1:1 to dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks or matched placebo. “Stable use” was defined as maintaining the same medicine (low-to-medium potency TCS and/or TCI) during the study, with the same frequency of treatment (once or twice daily) as from 2 weeks prior to screening. Efficacy was assessed from baseline to Week 24 through the Worst Itch Numerical Rating Scale (WI-NRS; scored 0–10; high scores represent a poorer outcome), and the Investigator’s Global Assessment for PN-Stage score (IGA PN-S; scored 0–4; high scores represent a poorer outcome). Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) was assessed through the Dermatology Life Quality Index questionnaire (DLQI; 10 questions scored 0–3 with a maximum score of 30; high scores represent poorer HRQoL).

Results
311 patients were randomized (dupilumab/placebo n = 153/158), including 182 patients with stable use of TCI/TCS (dupilumab/placebo N = 91/91) and 129 patients without (dupilumab/placebo N = 62/67). Baseline demographics and disease characteristics were well balanced in both subgroups. At Week 24, significantly more patients treated with dupilumab with or without stable use of TCI/TCS achieved a ≥ 4-point improvement in WI-NRS (59.3%/58.1%) vs placebo (13.2%/26.9% [nominal P &lt; 0.0001/P &lt; 0.0001]). The proportion of patients achieving an IGA PN-S score of 0 or 1 at Week 24 was also significantly higher in the dupilumab group for patients with or without stable use of TCI/TCS (48.4%/43.5%), vs placebo (11.0%/25.4% [nominal P &lt; 0.0001/P = 0.0319]). The positive impact of dupilumab treatment on HRQoL was greater, for patients with and without a stable use of TCI/TCS vs placebo, as suggested by the mean change from baseline in DLQI at Week 24 (−12.9/−11.9 vs −5.5/−7.1 [nominal P &lt; 0.0001/P &lt; 0.0001], respectively). Although the placebo response was higher for patients without stable use of TCI/TCS, the effect of dupilumab treatment was comparable in the two subgroups. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred with similar rates in dupilumab-treated patients with or without stable use of TCI/TCS (59.3%/60.7%), compared with placebo (53.3%/47.8%). Patients with or without stable use of TCI/TCS had similar rates of severe TEAEs in the dupilumab groups (2.2%/4.9%) and placebo groups (3.3%/4.5%).

Conclusion
Dupilumab treatment improves itch, skin lesions, and quality of life in patients with PN, with an acceptable safety profile, with little to no influence from concomitant treatment with topical therapies (TCI/TCS).