IL13 interleukin 13
ENSG00000169194 · protein coding · Open Targets profile
Cytokine that plays important roles in allergic inflammation and immune response to parasite infection (PubMed:8096327, PubMed:8097324). Synergizes with IL2 in regulating interferon-gamma synthesis (PubMed:8096327). Stimulates B-cell proliferation, and activation of eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells (PubMed:7903680, PubMed:8759755). Plays an important role in controlling IL33 activity by modulating the production of transmembrane and soluble forms of interleukin-1 receptor-like 1/IL1RL1 (By similarity). Displays the capacity to antagonize Th1-driven proinflammatory immune response and down-regulates synthesis of many proinflammatory cytokines including IL1, IL6, IL10, IL12 and TNF through a mechanism that partially involves suppression of NF-kappa-B (By similarity). Also functions on nonhematopoietic cells, including endothelial cells where it induces vascular cell adhesion protein 1/VCAM1, which is important in the recruitment of eosinophils (PubMed:8639787). Exerts its biological effects through its receptors which comprises the IL4R chain and the IL13RA1 chain, to activate JAK1 and TYK2, leading to the activation of STAT6 (PubMed:9013879). Aside from IL13RA1, another receptor IL13RA2 acts as a high affinity decoy for IL13 and mediates internalization and depletion of extracellular IL13 (PubMed:21622864). Induces inflammatory response in esophageal epithelium which results in a dysregulation of desmosome intercellular adhesion junctions, via down-regulation of DSG1 (PubMed:24220297). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P20109, ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:P42203, ECO:0000269|PubMed:21622864, ECO:0000269|PubMed:24220297, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7903680, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8096327, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8097324, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8639787, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8759755, ECO:0000269|PubMed:9013879}.
Each band is a group of drugs. It runs from the kind of drug on the left to the furthest stage that drug has reached in any disease on the right. Thicker bands mean more drugs.
Approved bands are highlighted. Withdrawn means the drug was pulled from the market or from development. A combined phase counts as the later one (Phase 1/2 is shown as Phase 2). Hover a band for the drug names. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Each row is a cancer, strongest overall evidence first. The two dots show how strong the inherited (germline) and tumour-mutation (somatic) evidence is; the line between them is the gap.
Scores run from 0 (no evidence) to 1 (strongest). A missing dot at 0 means Open Targets holds no evidence of that kind. Source: Open Targets Platform, fetched live.
Tractability
- Small molecule
- High-Quality Pocket
- Antibody
- Approved Drug, GO CC high conf, UniProt loc med conf, UniProt SigP or TMHMM
gnomAD loss of function constraint: o/e 0.8114799857139587 (upper bound 1.416100025177002). Low values mean loss of function is poorly tolerated, a safety flag for inhibition.
Who runs trials of these drugs
Principal investigators and study chairs on 53 registry trials, updated in the last three years, of the most advanced drugs against IL13 (lebrikizumab, tralokinumab, cendakimab, anrukinzumab, QAX-576, romilkimab), ranked by Phase 2+ trials. Live from ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Bristol-Myers SquibbBristol-Myers Squibb · 4 of 5 trials Phase 2+
- Aleksandra StjepanovicAlmirall, S.A. · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Andreas WollenbergDepartment of Dermatology and Allergy, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich, Germany · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Diego Ruiz DasilvaForefront Dermatology · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Eric SimpsonDepartment of Dermatology, Oregon Health and Science University · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Irene GarcíaHospital La Paz · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Johann E. GudjonssonUniversity of Michigan · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Kristin L KhanUniversity of Maryland, Baltimore · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Peter Schmid-GrendelmeierUniversity of Zurich · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
- Raymond ChoUniversity of California, San Francisco · 1 of 1 trials Phase 2+
Registry trials of lebrikizumab, tralokinumab, cendakimab, anrukinzumab, QAX-576, romilkimab updated in the last three years, counted by the country group of their listed sites. A trial with sites in several groups counts in each; 21 of 52 have all sites in one country.
Site counts are not patients per country, and trials registered only outside ClinicalTrials.gov are not covered. Where sites are is a fact about the record, not a judgement of its quality. Europe is the EU and EEA, the UK and Switzerland. 1 trials list no sites and are left out. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, fetched live.
13 trials of drugs against IL13 were stopped early; 1 give no reason
Terminated, withdrawn and suspended interventional trials of lebrikizumab, tralokinumab, cendakimab, anrukinzumab, QAX-576, romilkimab, CNTO-5825, newest update first, live from ClinicalTrials.gov. Each reason is quoted exactly as the registry gives it; we do not sort reasons into safety, efficacy or business. Dates are the last registry update. Showing the 13 most recent of 13.
- terminated · 2026-11-10 · Hoffmann-La Roche · Lebrikizumab“Sponsor decision to discontinue lebrikizumab development for the treatment of asthma.”
- terminated · 2026-06-30 · Hoffmann-La Roche · Lebrikizumab“Sponsor decision to discontinue lebrikizumab development for the treatment of asthma.”
- terminated · 2026-05-22 · Psoriasis Treatment Center of Central New Jersey · tralokinumab“Principal Investigator retired”
- terminated · 2026-02-06 · University of Zurich · Application of Tralokinumab“treatment group completed but insufficient recruitment control group”
- terminated · 2020-12-19 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Negative pharmacodynamics due to lack of Interleukin-13 signature in biomarker data from Part I of the study.”
- terminated · 2020-12-19 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Concerns about risk of bronchoscopy procedure in the selected patient population and frequency of SAEs observed to date.”
- terminated · 2020-12-19 · Novartis Pharmaceuticals · matched by the registry's drug synonymsNo reason given
- terminated · 2019-09-06 · AstraZeneca · Tralokinumab open-label“The study was terminated due to the discontinuation of the tralokinumab asthma program (as per the results of the Phase III study [D2210C00008])”
- withdrawn · 2018-04-25 · Hoffmann-La Roche · Lebrikizumab“The study was withdrawn due to an internal decision.”
- terminated · 2017-05-15 · MedImmune LLC · Tralokinumab“Early termination of the study due to lack of efficacy.”
- terminated · 2017-05-02 · MedImmune LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Study recruitment was terminated before the planned number of subjects was enrolled in CAT-354 10 mg/kg group due to the slow recruitment rate.”
- terminated · 2017-01-31 · MedImmune LLC · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“The study was terminated prematurely by the sponsor due to slow recruitment.”
- withdrawn · 2016-03-04 · Novartis · matched by the registry's drug synonyms“Due to the lack of enrolment and complexity of design, this study in asthma was terminated. No subjects have been dosed for this study.”
Paediatric incentives and obligations for IL13's drugs
For lebrikizumab, tralokinumab, cendakimab, anrukinzumab, QAX-576, romilkimab, CNTO-5825: what EMA and FDA publish about paediatric plans, orphan status and pediatric approvals, and how many registered studies take children. Each line is a yes, no or not published fact from the record linked under it; none of it is a forecast.
- FDA pediatric target list: no · IL13 is not on the listRule: Target is on FDA's Pediatric Molecular Target List (relevant targets). Source: FDA Pediatric Molecular Target List (Listed as February 2026 on the FDA Pediatric Oncology page; the file served is 9.7.22_the_relevant_molecular_target_list.xlsx, whose Summary of Changes sheet is headed 'SEPTEMBER 2022 UPDATE' (footnote date 2022-09-01)), 2026-11-11
- EU paediatric investigation plan: yes · EMA/PE/0000241034 (Lebrikizumab, Treatment of atopic dermatitis): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 15 May 2025; EMA/PE/0000183430 (tralokinumab, Treatment of atopic dermatitis): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 6 Dec 2024; EMEA-002640-PIP01-19-M01 (cendakimab, Treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis): PM: decision on the application for modification of an agreed PIP, 29 Dec 2023; EMEA-002536-PIP02-24 (Lebrikizumab, Treatment of nasal polyposis): W: decision granting a waiver in all age groups for all conditions or indications, 14 Jun 2024; +2 moreRule: An EMA PIP decision (agreement, modification or waiver) lists the drug as its active substance, exact name. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- EU orphan designation: yes · EU/3/19/2246 withdrawn 9 Jan 2020: Treatment of systemic sclerosis; EU/3/12/1061 withdrawn 8 Nov 2012: Treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosisRule: An EU orphan designation lists the drug as its active substance (exact name) or belongs to a medicine that does; withdrawn and expired designations are listed with their status. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- Authorised in the EU: yes · Adtralza: authorised since 17 Jun 2021; Ebglyss: authorised since 16 Nov 2023Rule: An EMA medicine record lists the drug as its active substance or INN, exact name; national-only authorisations are not in this file. Source: EMA data download (dated snapshot), 2026-11-11
- FDA orphan designation: not published · FDA's orphan designation database turns away automated requests, so this app does not read it; search it by hand at the linkRule: Would be: an FDA orphan designation names the drug. Source: FDA orphan designations search
- FDA pediatric oncology approval: no · FDA's table lists no pediatric approval of lebrikizumab, tralokinumab, cendakimab, anrukinzumab, qax-576, romilkimab, cnto-5825Rule: FDA's Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals table names the drug. Source: FDA Pediatric Oncology Drug Approvals (content current as of 2026-03-03), 2026-11-12
- Registered studies open to children: yes · 36 interventional studies of lebrikizumab, tralokinumab, cendakimab, anrukinzumab, qax-576, romilkimab, cnto-5825 include patients under 18; 7 are recruiting, not yet recruiting or activeRule: The registry's age group includes Child (birth to 17 years), which also counts studies that set no minimum age. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov search, 2026-11-12
Rare pediatric disease voucher. FDA, content current as of 29 Apr 2026: “As of February 3, 2026, enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, the rare pediatric disease PRV program will sunset after September 30, 2029. FDA may not award any PRVs under this program after September 30, 2029.” Voucher sale prices are not shown here; they appear only as company-reported news. FDA: Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Priority Review Voucher Programs
All 7 drugs and clinical candidates as a table
Each drug, stage and indication links to its Open Targets record, where the trials and approvals behind it are listed. Salt forms (for example a mesylate) are listed as Open Targets records them, as separate entries.