NAPSR News: AstraZeneca’s benralizumab produces stellar clinical data in severe asthma study

WASHINGTON - Oct. 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Benralizumab, AstraZeneca’s novel investigational monoclonal antibody to treat patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma and elevated levels of eosinophils (inflammatory white blood cell)  has produced optimistic safety and efficacy clinical data from a Phase IIb study according to The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

The primary endpoint was met with patients who took benralizumab based on reduction in their asthma exacerbation rate as opposed to subjects taking placebo over a period of one year. Secondary endpoints were achieved as patients experienced improved lung function  and asthma control as measured by the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6). Medimmune, the biologics division of AstraZeneca conducted the dose-ranging, placebo controlled study which assessed adult patients with severe uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma despite the use of medium or high dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta agonists for at least one year, and who had experienced at least two exacerbations in the past year.

“Asthma is a highly heterogeneous disease and these data advance our understanding of patient subtypes, potential biomarkers and targeted therapies to achieve the best outcomes for patients,” said Bing Yao, Senior Vice President and Head of MedImmune’s Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity Innovative Medicines Unit. “The insights from this Phase II trial played a key role in the design of our Phase III asthma programme. We are encouraged by the development prospects for benralizumab as a potential innovative medicine for patients with severe asthma and COPD.” Phase III trial for the drug is currently in development to treat severe, uncontrolled asthma and COPD.

AstraZeneca has always been a key player in the respiratory market and so far with the successful data produced by benralizumab the company has set an $8 billion (£5 billion) revenue target by 2023 for its respiratory portfolio.

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