Matthias Augustin, MD is a German physician, scientist, and university lecturer at Hamburg-Eppendorf University Medical Center.

Matthias Augustin, MD

Patients treated with nemolizumab (Nemluvio) in routine practice are showing responses and tolerability consistent with 3-year clinical trial findings in moderate to severe 

Matthias Augustin, MD, presented week 152 results from the open-label ARCADIA long-term extension (LTE) study at the 2026 

European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) 

Nemolizumab Safety, Real-World Use in AD, With Matthias Augustin, MD

In observed-case analyses, up to 91% of patients achieved EASI-75, up to 75% achieved EASI-90, and up to 67% achieved clear or almost clear skin (Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA] 0/1). Up to 88% experienced clinically meaningful itch relief, and up to 92% achieved clinically meaningful improvements in dermatology-related quality of life.¹,²

"Here I have the great experience that all those promises which come from the clinical trials, from the randomized controlled trials, and from the long-term extension about sustained long-term effects have also been found in the real-world care that we see," Augustin said in an interview with 

. "In other words, the patients who I treat in practice also have a good response, largely, and have the same level of safety and tolerability as we have seen in the long-term extension in the clinical trials."

Nemolizumab Safety Profile Through Week 152

"The level of subjective tolerability is high. Just very few patients have minor side effects like injection site reaction. Sometimes a bit of flares, but overall the core safety data are excellent," Augustin said.

Through 3 years of treatment, nemolizumab's safety profile remained consistent with previous findings, with no new safety signals identified compared with earlier LTE interim analyses.² The LTE is evaluating treatment in patients aged ≥12 years for up to 200 weeks.²

A separate post hoc analysis of the ARCADIA and OLYMPIA LTE studies, presented as an e-poster at EADV, found a favorable cutaneous safety profile over 2 years in patients with atopic dermatitis and 

IL-31 Response Predictors and Data Beyond Year 3

Augustin pointed to several questions that remain about nemolizumab, including how patients respond over longer periods of treatment, which patients are most likely to benefit, and how the drug affects the skin over time.

Looking ahead, he said he expects data from years 4 and 5 of treatment and wants to better understand why some patients respond to IL-31 blockade. He also highlighted the need to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms behind the treatment’s effects, including its apparent benefits for the skin barrier.

Nemolizumab inhibits signaling by IL-31, a neuroimmune cytokine involved in itch, inflammation, and epidermal dysfunction.²

Editor's Note: The ARCADIA LTE study is sponsored by Galderma. Augustin reported consulting fees, honoraria, speaker fees, and/or grant or research funding from AbbVie, Almirall, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beiersdorf, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Celgene, Centocor, Dermira, Eli Lilly, Fresenius, Galderma, Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Hexal, Incyte, Janssen, LEO Pharma, Medac, Menlo, Merck, MSD, Mundipharma, Mylan, Novartis, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sandoz, Sanofi, Stallergenes, Trevi, UCB, and XenoPort.

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: European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress; October 1, 2026; Vienna, Austria.

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. Published September 30, 2026. 

https://www.galderma.com/news/eadv-2026-galdermas-new-data-nemluvio-three-years

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An ARCADIA investigator says patients in practice match the 3-year trial results and outlines next steps for IL-31 research.

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 

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.

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

"The findings that we present at EADV have a profound impact for practice," Augustin said in an interview with 

. "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 

. 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

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

 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).

 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.

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.

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

EADV 2024 Late Breaking News Sessions: New Galderma data demonstrating nemolizumab's long-term efficacy and safety in atopic dermatitis

Up to 91% of patients reached EASI-75 at week 152 in the ARCADIA LTE, with consistent safety and gains in itch and quality of life.

Matthias Augustin, MD

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