Oct 24 (Reuters) - Eli Lilly ( LLY ) announced on Friday

safety and efficacy results from two separate late-stage studies

testing its approved drugs for alopecia and eczema.

The company was testing baricitinib, sold under the brand

name Olumiant, in 257 adolescent patients with severe alopecia

areata or patchy hair loss. In the trial, a 4 milligram dose of

baricitinib helped improve hair regrowth in more than 50% of

adolescents after one year of treatment.

Successful regrowth was also observed with a 2 milligram

dose, the company said, adding that the safety profile of

baricitinib remained consistent with previous reports.

In another trial, Lilly was testing Ebglyss, chemically

known as lebrikizumab, in 103 patients with moderate-to-severe

atopic dermatitis, a chronic skin condition commonly known as

eczema.

The company said lebrikizumab dosed every eight or four

weeks provided long-lasting response.

Lilly said it has submitted the data from the studies to the

U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a potential label update.

Ebglyss is an approved injectable medicine used to treat

adults and children 12 years and older with moderate-to-severe

eczema who cannot use topical therapies.

Olumiant is approved to treat adults with severe alopecia

areata and adults with moderately to severely active rheumatoid

arthritis, if prior treatment did not work.