According to a story from BioPharma Dive, the pharmaceutical company Celldex Therapeutics recently released positive results from two clinical trials. These trials involved the company’s investigational therapy, barzolvolimab. In a phase 2 trial, the drug was evaluated as a treatment for people living with chronic spontaneous urticaria, and in a smaller-scale phase 1b study, it was administered to people living with prurigo nodularis. Both of these diseases are associated with itching and other skin symptoms.
About the Phase 2 Trial
A total of 208 people participated in this study, and barzolvolimab achieved its primary endpoint. In the study, chronic spontaneous urticaria patients treated with the drug saw reductions in symptoms such as itching and hives. All patients had received treatment with antihistamines, and around 20% of them had been treated with Xolair, a biologic therapy that is an alternative to the antihistamine regimen most commonly used. Adverse effects of the treatment reported in the trial included neutropenia, itching, and changes in hair color.
About the Phase 1b Trial
In findings from the smaller phase 1 trial of prurigo nodularis, the data suggested that barzolvolimab was more effective at clearing skin, healing lesions, and relieving itching when compared to placebo. The company anticipates a phase 2 trial for this indication next year.
About Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria
Chronic spontaneous urticaria is a condition of hives appearing on the skin. “Chronic” indicates hives that appear frequently over a relatively long period. ‘Spontaneous’ indicates hives that do not appear to have a distinct cause, such as an allergic reaction. When a cause cannot be identified, an autoimmune trigger may play a role. Hives result in raised areas of skin that may itch, sting, or burn. First-line treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria is a course of antihistamines, but they are not always effective. To learn more about chronic spontaneous urticaria, click here.
About Prurigo Nodularis
Prurigo nodularis is a skin disease in which itchy nodules appear on the limbs. The condition is also called nodular prurigo. Frequent scratching results in excoriated lesions. The cause of the disease is unknown, but it may appear alongside other conditions or diseases. While the disease can appear at any age, the average onset tends to be around middle age. Autoimmune disease, low vitamin D, and kidney or liver problems are common in people with prurigo nodularis. Frequent scratching to relieve itching can trigger permanent skin changes. Treatment includes steroids, UVB light, thalidomide, vitamin supplements, azathioprine, and dupilumab. The disease is considered difficult to treat, with many patients reporting a lack of wound healing even after treatment for itch relief. To learn more about prurigo nodularis, click here.
