Dermira Receives Fast Track Designation from FDA for Lebrikizumab for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

MENLO PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Dermira, Inc. (NASDAQ: DERM), a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing biotech ingenuity to medical dermatology by delivering differentiated, new therapies to the millions of patients living with chronic skin conditions, today announced that the

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for lebrikizumab, its novel, investigational treatment being evaluated for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

Fast Track is a designation granted by the FDA intended to facilitate the drug development process and expedite the review of therapies to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need, including by demonstrating an advantage over currently available therapy. The goal of the Fast Track process is to ensure important new treatments reach patients as quickly as possible.

“We are pleased that the FDA granted lebrikizumab its Fast Track designation and recognizes the unmet need for patients living with moderate-to severe atopic dermatitis and the potential for lebrikizumab to offer a treatment for this serious condition,” said Tom Wiggans, chairman and chief executive officer of Dermira. “This Fast Track designation puts us one step closer to potentially delivering a new therapeutic option more quickly to patients should the results from earlier Phase 2 studies be confirmed in the ongoing Phase 3 studies assessing the safety, efficacy and tolerability of the investigational therapy.”

Lebrikizumab is currently being evaluated in two Phase 3 studies, ADvocate 1 and ADvocate 2, to confirm its safety and efficacy in adolescent and adult patients, ages 12 years and older, with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis.

About Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is the most common and severe form of eczema, a chronic inflammatory condition that can present as early as childhood and continue into adulthood. A moderate-to-severe form of the disease is characterized by a range of signs and symptoms, including rashes on the skin that often cover much of the body, as well as intense, persistent itching. The condition can have a negative impact on patients’ mental and physical functioning, limiting their daily activities and health-related quality of life. Patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis have reported a larger impact on quality of life than patients with psoriasis.

About Lebrikizumab

Lebrikizumab is a novel, investigational, monoclonal antibody designed to bind IL-13 with very high affinity, specifically preventing the formation of the IL-13Rα1/IL-4Rα heterodimer complex and subsequent signaling, thereby inhibiting the biological effects of IL-13 in a targeted and efficient fashion. IL-13 is believed to be a central pathogenic mediator that drives multiple aspects of the pathophysiology underlying the range of signs and symptoms of atopic dermatitis by promoting type 2 inflammation and mediating its effects on tissue, resulting in skin barrier dysfunction, itch, skin thickening and infection.

About Dermira

Dermira is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing biotech ingenuity to medical dermatology by delivering differentiated, new therapies to the millions of patients living with chronic skin conditions. Dermira is committed to understanding the needs of both patients and physicians and using its insight to identify, develop and commercialize leading-edge medical dermatology products. The company’s approved treatment, QBREXZA® (glycopyrronium) cloth, is indicated for pediatric and adult patients (ages 9 and older) with primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating). Please see the QBREXZA prescribing information. Dermira is currently evaluating lebrikizumab in a Phase 3 clinical development program for the treatment of moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (a severe form of eczema) and also has early-stage research and development programs in other areas of dermatology. Dermira is headquartered in Menlo Park, Calif. For more information, please visit http://www.dermira.com. Follow Dermira on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

In addition to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), press releases, public conference calls and webcasts, Dermira uses its website (www.dermira.com), LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/dermira-inc-), corporate Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/dermira_inc/) and corporate Twitter account (@DermiraInc) as channels of distribution of information about its company, product candidates, planned financial and other announcements, attendance at upcoming investor and industry conferences and other matters. Such information may be deemed material information and Dermira may use these channels to comply with its disclosure obligations under Regulation FD. Therefore, investors should monitor Dermira’s website, LinkedIn page, Instagram and Twitter accounts in addition to following its SEC filings, news releases, public conference calls and webcasts.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information in this news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements with respect to Dermira’s goal of bringing biotech ingenuity to medical dermatology by delivering differentiated, new therapies to the millions of patients living with chronic skin conditions; the potential for lebrikizumab to offer a treatment for patients living with moderate-to severe atopic dermatitis; and Dermira’s ability to deliver a new therapeutic option more quickly to patients with moderate-to severe atopic dermatitis should the results in the ongoing Phase 3 studies confirm the results from the earlier Phase 2 studies. These statements deal with future events and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include risks and uncertainties such as those relating to the design, implementation and outcomes of Dermira’s Phase 3 clinical trials evaluating lebrikizumab in adult and adolescent patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis; the impact of competitive clinical trials, products and therapies; Dermira’s dependence on third-party clinical research organizations, manufacturers, suppliers and distributors; the outcomes of future meetings with regulatory agencies; Dermira’s ability to obtain necessary additional capital; market acceptance of Dermira’s current and potential products; Dermira’s ability to attract and retain key employees; Dermira’s ability to manage the growth and complexity of its organization; Dermira’s ability to maintain, protect and enhance its intellectual property; and Dermira’s ability to continue to stay in compliance with its material contractual obligations, applicable laws and regulations. You should refer to the section entitled “Risk Factors” set forth in Dermira’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, Dermira’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings Dermira makes with the SEC from time to time for a discussion of important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by Dermira’s forward-looking statements. Furthermore, such forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Dermira undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements or reasons why actual results might differ, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

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