Eli Lilly(LLY.US)'s new drug "Larequimab" filed for approval in China. The global sales are expected to reach $400 million in 2025.

IQiyi Finance APP learned that on March 3rd, according to the official website of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE), Eli Lilly (LLY.US)’s application for the approval of the new drug Dartrilumab injection under Class 3.1 has been accepted. Public information shows that Dartrilumab is an interleukin-13 (IL-13) inhibitor that can selectively block IL-13 signaling with high affinity. This drug is the first IL-13 monoclonal antibody submitted for marketing approval in China. Based on publicly available information and clinical trial progress, it is speculated that the current application is for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Dartrilumab is a monoclonal antibody that can selectively target and neutralize IL-13 with high binding affinity and slow dissociation rate. Lebrikizumab binds to the IL-13 cytokine at a site overlapping with the binding site of the IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα heterodimer, thereby preventing the formation of this receptor complex and inhibiting IL-13 signaling. IL-13 is a key cytokine in atopic dermatitis, driving type 2 inflammation in the skin, leading to skin barrier dysfunction, itching, thickening, and infection.

Dartrilumab was approved for marketing in the European Union, Japan, and the United States between 2023 and 2024, for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis (AD) in adolescents aged 12 and above and adults. Eli Lilly holds exclusive rights to develop and commercialize lebrikizumab in the US and other regions outside Europe. According to Lilly’s 2025 annual report, Dartrilumab’s global sales are approximately $408 million.

It is understood that currently, only two IL-13 monoclonal antibodies have been approved globally: Tralokinumab by Leo Pharma and Dartrilumab by Eli Lilly.