Dermira, Inc. announced the initiation of a Phase 2b dose-ranging study evaluating the safety and efficacy of lebrikizumab in adult patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis, the most common form of eczema. Lebrikizumab is a novel, humanized monoclonal antibody designed to bind to IL-13 with high affinity, specifically preventing heterodimerization of the IL-13/IL-4 receptor and subsequent signaling. IL-13 plays a central role in type 2 inflammation and is an important pathogenic mediator in atopic dermatitis. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group Phase 2b study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lebrikizumab as a monotherapy compared with placebo and to establish the dosing regimen for a potential Phase 3 program in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. The study is expected to enroll approximately 275 patients ages 18 years and older with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis at sites in the United States. The study will evaluate three active treatment groups compared to a placebo treatment group, for 16 weeks, with patients randomized in a 3:3:3:2 fashion.