BioCentury
ARTICLE | Product Development

Locking in lebrikizumab

Genentech builds case for lebrikizumab in asthma; MedImmune's tralokinumab next

August 15, 2011 7:00 AM UTC

In the race to treat asthma by blocking IL-13, Genentech Inc. now has positive Phase II data and a biomarker for responders to lebrikizumab in severe asthma patients. Next up is data from MedImmune LLC's tralokinumab.

IL-13 is secreted by T helper type 2 (Th2) cells and leads to JAK/STAT signaling via STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription 6). This signaling activates neutrophils, which have been implicated in lung damage...