Chugai Pharmaceutical and Galderma Pharma announced a global license agreement for nemolizumab (CIM331). The anti-IL-31 receptor A humanized monoclonal antibody was created by Chugai, and is currently under development for atopic dermatitis and pruritus in hemodialysis patients. Chugai will grant Galderma an exclusive license for the development and marketing of the product worldwide, with the exception of Japan and Taiwan. Chugai will continue to be responsible for product manufacturing and supply of nemolizumab, which is based on Chugaiā€™s proprietary antibody engineering technology ACT-Ig. IL-31 has been identified as a pruritogenic cytokine,1 and reported to be associated with pruritus in many diseases including atopic dermatitis and hemodialysis.