The FDA has approved Korsuva (difelikefalin) from Cara Therapeutics Inc. for pruritis in patients undergoing hemodialysis, following a fast review. Korsuva is the first therapy approved by the FDA in the indication and is the first ever approval for the Stamford, Conn.-based company.
As more therapies are approved to treat severe atopic dermatitis, U.S. payers should make available at least one biologic and one JAK1 inhibitor, given how different the drug classes are in their onset of action and their risk profile, a panel of experts recommended at a recent Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) roundtable.
Eli Lilly and Co.’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Dermira Inc. early last year is looking like a smart move after the company’s atopic dermatitis (AD) drug, lebrikizumab, hit all its targets in two phase III trials. Lebrikizumab is an interleukin-13 antagonist and is part of Lilly’s strategy to build a dermatology portfolio to compete in a market dominated by Sanofi SA and Regeneron Pharmaceutical Inc.’s Dupixent (dupilumab), which was the first injected antibody drug available for AD in 2017. Lilly picked up Dermira, of Menlo Park, Calif., along with lebrikizumab in January last year shortly after the FDA granted lebrikizumab fast track status, paving the way for a potential six-month review.
RSS
