The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved nemolizumab (Nemluvio) for treating moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in individuals aged 12 and older. This medication is intended for use with topical corticosteroids (steroids applied to the skin) and/or topical calcineurin inhibitors (TCIs, drugs that reduce immune system activity in the skin). It’s a new option for people who have not had satisfactory results from topical therapies alone.

Nemolizumab is a monoclonal antibody administered as a subcutaneous (under the skin) injection every four weeks. It works by blocking a protein called interleukin (IL)-31, which plays a key role in causing itchiness and inflammation in atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema.

Phase 3 clinical trials supported the approval of nemolizumab. In the study, participants received either nemolizumab or a placebo (inactive treatment), along with either topical corticosteroids alone or combined with topical TCIs. Researchers found that after 16 weeks, more than 33 percent of participants who received nemolizumab had total or near-total clearance of atopic dermatitis lesions, compared to around 25 percent of those who received the placebo.

Additionally, around 43 percent of participants treated with nemolizumab achieved a 75 percent reduction in eczema severity, compared to around 30 percent of the group who received a placebo.

Moreover, researchers observed significant improvement in itchiness and sleep disturbances within the first week for people starting treatment with nemolizumab.

According to the prescription label, the most common side effects of nemolizumab include headache, joint pain, hives, and muscle pain. Rare but serious side effects include hypersensitivity reactions, which may involve breathing problems, swelling, or severe skin reactions.

A Different Pathway to Itch Relief

Nemolizumab joins a growing list of biologics that take a targeted approach to treating eczema, unlike traditional treatments such as topical corticosteroids and TCIs, which focus on reducing inflammation directly on the skin. Nemolizumab, along with other biologics such as dupilumab (Dupixent), tralokinumab (Adbry), and lebrikizumab (Ebglyss), all target specific pathways in the immune system that drive eczema symptoms like inflammation and itching. However, whereas the others target IL-4 or IL-13, nemolizumab is the first to target IL-31, a pathway specifically linked to persistent itch, which is often a main symptom of eczema.

If you are living with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis and aren’t finding relief from your current treatment, consider speaking with your healthcare provider about alternatives that may be better for your specific diagnosis and treatment goals.

Learn more about the current treatment options available for eczema.

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