Biotech investment managers search for lucrative opportunities

Eli Lilly said Friday that it will acquire Dermira, a small biotech developing drugs for chronic skin conditions, for $1.1 billion.

The centerpiece of the deal is the Dermira drug called lebrikizumab that aims to treat people suffering from moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema, a disease characterized by inflamed, itchy, and scaly skin.

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Phase 3 clinical trials of lebrikizumab in atopic dermatitis are underway. If successful, the drug could compete against Dupixent, which has grown into a commercial blockbuster for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi.

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