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Background Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is a relatively common skin disease associated with hives and angio-oedema. Eosinophils play a role in CSU pathogenesis. Benralizumab, an anti-interleukin-5 receptor-α monoclonal antibody, has been shown to induce nearly complete depletion of eosinophils. Objectives To determine the clinical efficacy and safety of benralizumab in patients with CSU who were symptomatic despite H1 antihistamine treatment. Methods The 24-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase IIb portion of the ARROYO trial enrolled adult patients with CSU who were currently on H1 antihistamine treatment. Patients were randomized to one of five treatment groups according to benralizumab dose and regimen for a 24-week treatment period. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in Itch Severity Score (ISS)7 at week 12. The key secondary endpoint was change from baseline in Urticaria Activity Score (UAS)7 at week 12. Additional secondary endpoints included other metrics to assess CSU at week 24, blood eosinophil levels, and pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity assessments. Exploratory subgroup analyses were conducted to explore responses according to demographics, clinical features and biomarkers. Safety was assessed in all treatment groups. Results Of 155 patients, 59 were randomized to benralizumab 30 mg, 56 to benralizumab 60 mg and 40 to placebo. Baseline and disease characteristics were consistent with what was expected for patients with CSU. There were no significant differences in change from baseline in ISS7 score at week 12 between benralizumab and placebo [benralizumab 30 mg vs. placebo, least-squares mean difference −1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) −3.28 to 1.26; benralizumab 60 mg vs. placebo, least-squares mean difference –1.79, 95% CI –4.09 to 0.50] nor in change from baseline in UAS7 score at week 12 between benralizumab and placebo (benralizumab 30 mg vs. placebo, P = 0.407; benralizumab 60 mg vs. placebo, P = 0.082). Depletion of blood eosinophil levels was observed at week 24 in patients treated with benralizumab. All other secondary endpoints and exploratory/subgroup analyses indicated no significant differences between benralizumab and placebo. Safety results were consistent with the known profile of benralizumab. Conclusions Although benralizumab resulted in near-complete depletion of blood eosinophils, there was no clinical benefit over placebo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with primary cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) often experience severe and difficult-to-treat pruritus that negatively affects their quality of life (QoL). However, the mechanisms of pruritus in CTCL, including mycosis fungoides (MF), remain largely unknown, and detailed characteristics of CTCL-associated pruritus is not fully elucidated. To characterize pruritus in CTCL, cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL), and large plaque parapsoriasis (LPP), and to identify potential itch mediators involved in the pathogenesis of pruritus in CTCL patients. Clinical data and blood samples were collected from 129 healthy subjects and 142 patients. Itch intensity, QoL impairment, psychological distress, and sleep quality were assessed using validated questionnaires and instruments. Blood levels of BDNF, CCL24, GRP, IL-31, IL-33, sST2, substance P, TSLP, tryptase and total IgE were measured using ELISA or ImmunoCAP. Pruritus was prevalent in CTCL, LPP and CBCL patients, with higher prevalence and severity observed in CTCL. In CTCL, pruritus correlated with significant impairment in QoL, sleep, psychological distress. Compared to healthy controls, elevated levels of IL-31, IL-33, substance P, total IgE, tryptase, and TSLP were found in MF patients. A comparison of MF patients with and without pruritus revealed higher levels of IL-31, substance P, GRP, and CCL24 in the former. Itch intensity positively correlated with IL-31, GRP, CCL24, and tryptase levels. Pruritus significantly burdens CTCL patients, necessitating appropriate therapeutic management. Our findings suggest that various non-histaminergic mediators such as tryptase and IL-31 could be explored as novel therapeutic targets for managing pruritus in MF patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is crucial for Fc[epsilon]RI-mediated mast cell activation and essential for autoantibody production by B cells in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Fenebrutinib, an orally administered, potent, highly selective, reversible BTK inhibitor, may be effective in CSU. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial (EudraCT ID 2016-004624-35) randomized 93 adults with antihistamine-refractory CSU to 50 mg daily, 150 mg daily and 200 mg twice daily of fenebrutinib or placebo for 8 weeks. The primary end point was change from baseline in urticaria activity score over 7 d (UAS7) at week 8. Secondary end points were the change from baseline in UAS7 at week 4 and the proportion of patients well-controlled (UAS7 [less than or equal to] 6) at week 8. Fenebrutinib efficacy in patients with type IIb autoimmunity and effects on IgG-anti-Fc[epsilon]RI were exploratory end points. Safety was also evaluated. The primary end point was met, with dose-dependent improvements in UAS7 at week 8 occurring at 200 mg twice daily and 150 mg daily, but not at 50 mg daily of fenebrutinib versus placebo. Asymptomatic, reversible grade 2 and 3 liver transaminase elevations occurred in the fenebrutinib 150 mg daily and 200 mg twice daily groups (2 patients each). Fenebrutinib diminished disease activity in patients with antihistamine-refractory CSU, including more patients with refractory type IIb autoimmunity. These results support the potential use of BTK inhibition in antihistamine-refractory CSU. Fenebrutinib, an oral Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor, reduces disease activity in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria refractory to antihistamines, suggesting that this treatment type could be an alternative to standard of care anti-IgE therapy., Author(s): Martin Metz [sup.1] [sup.2] , Gordon Sussman [sup.3] , Rémi Gagnon [sup.4] , Petra Staubach [sup.5] , Tonny Tanus [sup.6] , William H. Yang [sup.7] , Jeremy J. Lim [...]

Chronic urticaria (CU) is a mast cell (MC)‐dependent disease with limited therapeutic options. Current management strategies are directed at inhibiting IgE‐mediated activation of MCs and antagonizing effects of released mediators. Due to the complexity and heterogeneity of CU and other MC diseases and mechanisms of MC activation—including multiple activating receptors and ligands, diverse signaling pathways, and a menagerie of mediators—strategies of MC depletion or MC silencing (i.e., inhibition of MC activation via binding of inhibitory receptors) have been developed to overcome limitations of singularly targeted agents. MC silencers, such as agonist monoclonal antibodies that engage inhibitory receptors (e.g., sialic acid‐binding immunoglobulin‐like lectin8 ‐[Siglec‐8] [lirentelimab/AK002], Siglec‐6 [AK006], and CD200R [LY3454738]), have reached preclinical and clinical stages of development. In this review, we (1) describe the role of MCs in the pathogenesis of CU, highlighting similarities with other MC diseases in disease mechanisms and response to treatment; (2) explore current therapeutic strategies, categorized by nonspecific immunosuppression, targeted inhibition of MC activation or mediators, and targeted modulation of MC activity; and (3) introduce the concept of MC silencing as an emerging strategy that could selectively block activation of MCs without eliciting or exacerbating on‐ or off‐target, immunosuppressive adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is unpredictable and can severely impair patients' quality of life. Patients with CSU need a convenient, user‐friendly platform to complete patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) on their mobile devices. CRUSE®, the Chronic Urticaria Self Evaluation app, aims to address this unmet need. Methods: CRUSE® was developed by an international steering committee of urticaria specialists. Priorities for the app based on recent findings in CSU were defined to allow patients to track and record their symptoms and medication use over time and send photographs. The CRUSE® app collects patient data such as age, sex, disease onset, triggers, medication, and CSU characteristics that can be sent securely to physicians, providing real‐time insights. Additionally, CRUSE® contains PROMs to assess disease activity and control, which are individualised to patient profiles and clinical manifestations. Results: CRUSE® was launched in Germany in March 2022 and is now available for free in 17 countries. It is adapted to the local language and displays a country‐specific list of available urticaria medications. English and Ukrainian versions are available worldwide. From July 2022 to June 2023, 25,710 observations were documented by 2540 users; 72.7% were females, with a mean age of 39.6 years. At baseline, 93.7% and 51.3% of users had wheals and angioedema, respectively. Second‐generation antihistamines were used in 74.0% of days. Conclusions: The initial data from CRUSE® show the wide use and utility of effectively tracking patients' disease activity and control, paving the way for personalised CSU management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non‐sedating H1‐antihistamines (nsAH) are the most commonly used treatment for chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). Many patients use them as on‐demand (OD) therapy rather than a maintenance treatment. Here, we compared OD versus daily maintenance treatment with the nsAH rupatadine, assessed the efficacy of rupatadine updosing, and investigated potential long‐term disease‐modifying effects. Methods: This multicenter, randomized study consisted of 2 weeks of screening, 8 weeks of double‐blind treatment, and 6 weeks of treatment‐free follow‐up (OD allowed). Adult patients were randomized to 10 mg rupatadine OD or 10 mg rupatadine daily. At Week 4, if patients did not have a complete response, they switched from 10 to 20 mg rupatadine daily or underwent sham updosing (patients on 10 mg rupatadine OD). The primary aim was to compare CSU disease activity at the end of follow‐up between daily versus OD. Additionally, we assessed the efficacy of rupatadine updosing. Major outcomes were disease activity, CSU‐related quality of life (QoL), and disease control. Results: At Week 4, disease activity and QoL significantly improved in daily versus OD‐treated patients. Updosing of rupatadine did not improve the mean disease activity, but the number of complete responders increased during updosing from 5% to 22%. At the end of follow‐up, the disease activity of patients treated OD versus daily was not significantly different. Conclusions: Daily rupatadine treatment significantly improved CSU disease activity and QoL during treatment versus OD treatment but not after discontinuation of rupatadine, indicating the benefits of a daily maintenance nsAH schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]