A new treatment for prurigo nodularis is coming down the drug development pipeline. Prurigo nodularis is marked by persistent itching, stinging and burning sensation in the skin, resulting in a chronic itch-scratch cycle and resulting nodules where the skin is picked and scratched. In a phase 2 clinical trial, serlopitant, a neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist that inhibits substance P, reduced itch, pain, burning and stinging in patients with prurigo nodularis as compared with a placebo-treated group.
Although many treatments have been tried for prurigo nodularis, none are consistently effective, and prurigo nodularis remains a frustrating disease. As serlopitant heads toward phase 3 clinical trials, it is hoped that the positive data continues and that this will result in a new treatment for prurigo nodularis, and other itch-related problems.
