A Phase 2/3 interventional study of Neolizumab in Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice. Not yet recruiting at 4 sites in France. Open to participants aged 12 Years to 99 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-09.
Sponsored by Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice · Phase 2/3, Interventional, and Treatment
Dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is an inherited mucocutaneous fragility disorder caused by pathogenic variants in COL7A1, leading to blistering, scarring, and significant morbidity. Pruritus is a major complication that substantially impairs patients' quality of life, yet effective treatment options remain limited. Nemolizumab, an interleukin-31 receptor alpha antagonist, inhibits IL-31 signaling, a pathway potentially involved in DEB-associated pruritus. Elevated IL-31 levels have been reported in patients with recessive DEB (RDEB) and correlated with pruritus severity, supporting its potential role as a therapeutic target. We hypothesize that nemolizumab may represent an effective and safe treatment option for pruritus in patients with DEB.
Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a heterogeneous group of rare inherited disorders characterized by skin and mucosal fragility leading to the formation of blisters, erosions, and scars. It is traditionally subdivided into four main subtypes: simplex, junctional, dystrophic (EBD), and Kindler. The dystrophic form (DEB) is associated with dominant or recessive pathogenic variants in the COL7A1 gene, which encodes type VII collagen, an essential component of the anchoring fibrils that ensure dermo-epidermal adhesion.
Available epidemiological data estimate the prevalence of hereditary EB at approximately 11 cases per million people in the United States, with an incidence of about 2.72 new cases per 1 million live births. DEB accounts for approximately 25% of EB cases and can present in autosomal dominant or recessive forms.
EBD is associated with significant morbidity, particularly due to chronic complications such as pruritus and fibrosis, which significantly impair patients' quality of life and independence. To date, there is no curative treatment. Management relies on a multidisciplinary approach that is primarily symptomatic. Recently, B-VEC, a topical gene therapy designed to restore COL7A1 expression in skin lesions to promote healing, has received regulatory approval. However, its accessibility is limited
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78 studies on the registry are indexed under Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica; 21 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 15 is above the median of 9 across 55 interventional studies indexed under Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica.
Browse Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica studies →Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice is the lead sponsor of 723 studies on the registry; 176 are open to participants now.
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5) Subject agrees not to use any topical therapies other than the investigator approved (VYJUVEK gel is accepted if ongoing at the time of the study, excepted on the left leg) 6) A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and at least 1 of the following conditions applies: 7) (a) Is not a Women of (WOCBP) OR 8) Is a WOCBP and using a method that is highly effective (with a failure rate of \<1% per year), preferably with low user dependency, during the study period until the end of her participation to the study. Effective method of birth control recommended by the Clinical Trials Facilitation and Coordination group are combined (oestrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral or intravaginal or transdermal); progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral or injectable or implantable); intrauterine device; intrauterine hormone-releasing system; bilateral tubal occlusion 9) Subject is in good general health and free of any known disease state or physical condition which, in the investigator's opinion, might impair his evaluation or which exposes the subject to an unacceptable risk by study participation.
10) Subject is willing and able to follow all study instructions and to attend all study visits.
11) Subject is able to comprehend and willing to sign an and/or Assent Form.
12) Affiliation with a social security scheme.
Exclusion Criteria:
Medical History and Concurrent Diseases:
Has uncontrolled arterial hypertension characterized by a systolic blood pressure (BP) >160 mm Hg or diastolic BP >100 mm Hg.
Note: Determined by 2 consecutive elevated readings. If an initial BP reading exceeds this limit, the BP may be repeated once after the participant has rested sitting for ≥10 minutes. If the repeat value is less than the criterion limits, the second value may be accepted.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Childbearing potential
Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).
Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraception
Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.
Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
NYHA class (heart failure)
The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.
Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Neolizumab
Drug: Neolizumab
Nemolizumab will be administered as a 60 mg loading dose (two 30 mg injections) at Day 0, followed by 30 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 24 weeks,
To study the efficacy of Nemolizumab on pruritus in patients > 12yo with DEB after 4 weeks of treatment, in a multicentric, prospective, and open pilot study.
The primary endpoint will be the proportion of patients achieving a clinically meaningful improvement in pruritus severity at Week 4 compared with baseline, defined as a reduction of at least 4 points on the Peak Pruritus Numerical Rating Scale (PP-NRS), which ranges from 0 (no itch) to 10 (worst itch imaginable).
Time frame: 4 weeks
To describe the evolution of the following efficacy and health outcomes measures after 24 weeks of treatment
pain (scale 0-10)
Time frame: at 24 weeks
To describe the evolution of the following efficacy and health outcomes measures after 24 weeks of treatment
pain (scale 0-10)
Time frame: at baseline
To describe the evolution of the following efficacy and health outcomes measures after 24 weeks of treatment
quality of life (scale 0-30)
Time frame: at 24 weeks
To describe the evolution of the following efficacy and health outcomes measures after 24 weeks of treatment
quality of life (scale 0-30)
Time frame: at baseline
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Nov 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica →
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