AstraZeneca/Amgen's Tezepelumab Reduces Asthma Exacerbations, Phase 3 Trial Shows

AstraZeneca Plc (NASDAQ: AZN) and its partner Amgen Inc (NASDAQ: AMGN) have announced positive results from NAVIGATOR Phase 3 trial evaluating tezepelumab in severe asthma.
Results were presented at the American Academy of Asthma Allergy & Immunology Annual Meeting.
Tezepelumab achieved a 56% reduction in exacerbation rate over 52 weeks in the overall patient population, compared to placebo when added to standard of care.
In a pre-specified analysis of the subgroup of patients with baseline eosinophil counts less than 300 cells per microliter, tezepelumab achieved a 41% reduction in exacerbation rate.
39% and 70% reduction in patients with baseline eosinophil counts less than 150 and greater than or equal to 300 cells per microliter, respectively.
No clinically meaningful differences in safety results between the tezepelumab and placebo groups were observed.
The most frequently reported adverse events were nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache.
Tezepelumab blocks the action of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, an epithelial cytokine that plays a key role across the spectrum of asthma inflammation.
Price Action: AZN and AMGN shares are down 0.9% in market trading hours on the last check Friday.