Eli Lilly has submitted a new drug application (NDA) in China for its IL-13 inhibitor, Ebglyss (lebrikizumab), for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. This marks the first IL-13 monoclonal antibody (mAb) to seek regulatory approval in the Chinese market.

The drug, which gained approval in Europe in 2023 and the US in 2024, generated global sales of approximately USD 408 million in 2025. It works by binding with high affinity to soluble IL-13, blocking the cytokine from driving inflammatory pathways associated with the disease.

The submission is supported by positive data from two Phase III trials, ADvocate 1 and ADvocate 2. In these studies, a significantly higher proportion of patients treated with lebrikizumab achieved clear or almost clear skin (IGA 0/1) and a 75% improvement in eczema area and severity (EASI-75) compared to those on a placebo at 16 weeks.

PharmCube's NextBiopharm® database shows that only two IL-13 inhibitors are currently approved globally, with the other being LEO Pharma's tralokinumab. Click here to request a free trial for NextBiopharm®.