Lebrikizumab, Qbrexza to join Lilly’s dermatology portfolio

Eli Lilly has announced its plan to acquire Dermira, a biopharmaceutical company that specializes in developing drugs to treat a variety of skin conditions, according to a recent press release published January 10, 2010.

With this acquisition, two drugs will be added to Lilly’s current dermatology portfolio: lebrikizumab and a glycopyrronium cloth (Qbrexza, Dermira).  Lebrikizumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to IL-13, is currently being investigated in a phase 3 trial for the treatment of atopic dermatitis in patients 12 years or older. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted lebrikizumab a Fast Track designation last month. Dermira’s glycoprronium medicated cloth is an already approved topical treatment for primary axillary hyperhidrosis.

“The acquisition of Dermira is consistent with Lilly's strategy to augment our own internal research by acquiring clinical phase assets in our core therapeutic areas and leveraging our development expertise and commercial infrastructure to bring new medicines to patients,” says Patrik Jonsson, Lilly senior vice president and president of Lilly Bio-Medicines, “This acquisition provides an opportunity to add a promising phase 3 immunology compound for atopic dermatitis, while also adding an approved dermatology treatment for primary axillary hyperhidrosis. We look forward to completing the acquisition and continuing Dermira's excellent work.”

The acquisition will likely close at the end of the first quarter of 2020. Results of the phase 3 trial of lebrikizumab are expected in early 2021.