Eli Lilly Bags Dermatology Company Dermira for $1.1 Billion
Published: Jan 10, 2020 By Alex Keown
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Not waiting for the start of the annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, Eli Lilly announced it will acquire California-based Dermira, Inc. in an all-cash deal for $1.1 billion. The acquisition will allow Eli Lilly to expand its immunology pipeline with a late-stage treatment for atopic dermatitis.
Lilly has its eyes set on two Dermira assets, lebrikizumab, a novel, investigational, monoclonal antibody designed to bind IL-13, which is believed to be a driver of signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis. That therapy is currently in two Phase III trials for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adolescent and adult patients, ages 12 years and older. Lebrikizumab was granted Fast Track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in December. In a Phase IIb trial, Lebrikizumab demonstrated dose-dependent improvements across endpoints spanning the range of atopic dermatitis signs and symptoms, including skin lesions and pruritus, when administered once every two or four weeks.
"People suffering from moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis have significant unmet treatment needs, and we are excited about the potential that lebrikizumab has to help these patients," Patrik Jonsson, president of Lilly Bio-Medicines said in a statement.
In addition to lebrikizumab, Eli Lilly will gain Qbrexza (glycopyrronium) cloth, a medicated cloth approved by the FDA for the topical treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis (uncontrolled excessive underarm sweating).
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