close
close

US FDA approves Eli Lilly drug against eczema

September 13 (Reuters) – Eli Lilly (LLY.N)opens new tab announced on Friday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved its eczema medication for use in adults and children over 12 years of age.

The drug, an injectable medicine branded Ebglyss, will be available in the next few weeks, the company said.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is an inflammatory skin condition that can cause itching, rashes, and dry patches.

The FDA's approval was based on three studies involving more than 1,000 patients with moderate to severe eczema whose symptoms were not controlled with topical medications or other systemic treatments, Eli Lilly said.

Last year, the agency refused to approve the drug due to certain findings during an inspection of a contract manufacturer.

According to the National Eczema Association, nearly 16.5 million adults in the United States suffer from eczema.

There are several treatment options available for eczema, including AbbVie (ABBV.N)opens new tab Rinvoq, Pfizer (PFE.N)opens new tab Cibinqo, Sanofi (SASY.PA)opens new tab and Regeneron (REGN.O)opens new tab Dupixent and some generics such as cetirizine.

Unlike Dupixent, which must be taken twice a month in adults, Ebglyss can be administered once a month, which “is seen as attractive by experts and probably also by patients,” Jefferies analyst Lucy Codrington wrote in a note last year.

The drug has already been approved for use in Europe and Japan, and further markets are expected later this year, the company said.

Ebglyss is a monoclonal antibody that specifically attacks and neutralizes the IL-13 protein, which is responsible for the development of eczema.

Sign up Here.

Reporting by Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri

Our standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.opens new tab

Acquire license rights