Lebrilizumab, sold under the brand name Ebglyss is a humanized monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
It is an interleukin-13 antagonist.
It is given by subcutaneous injection.
Its most common side effects include injection site reactions, dry eye and conjunctivitis and allergic conjunctivitis.
Lebrikizumab is indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis in adults and adolescents twelve years and older with a body weight of at least 40 kilograms (88 lb) who are candidates for systemic therapy.
Lebrikizumab blocks interleukin 13 (IL-13), a cytokine that is produced by Th2 cells.
IL-13 is thought to induce the expression of another signalling protein, periostin, by epithelial cells of the bronchi.
Periostin is associated of asthma related problems, such as bronchial hyperresponsiveness, inflammation, and activation and proliferation of airway fibroblasts, which are involved in airway remodelling.
With high periostin levels patients responded significantly better to lebrikizumab in the phase II study: the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was 8.2% higher than under placebo in this group, while low-periostin patients had 1.6% higher FEV1, and the average value for all patients was 5.5%.
Lebrikizumab is under investigation as an immunosuppressive medication for the treatment of asthma inadequately controlled.