Amgen/AstraZeneca’s Tezepelumab Cuts Asthma Exacerbations By 56%

Low Eosinophil Patients Have 39% Reduction, Supporting Broad Label

Feb 27 2021

• By Mandy Jackson

Listen to this article

Data presented at AAAI meeting show reduced annualized asthma exacerbation rates across all patient populations, but doctors are unlikely to switch patients served well by existing biologics.

Shortness of breath — Tezepelumab cut asthma exacerbations on top of standard-of-care drugs • Source: Shutterstock

Amgen, Inc. and AstraZeneca PLC’s tezepelumab showed significant efficacy in reducing patients’ annualized asthma exacerbation rate regardless of their eosinophil levels in the first detailed set of Phase III data in the treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma. The commercial potential remains unclear, however, since doctors say they are unlikely to switch patients with high eosinophil levels who are served well by existing biologics approved for that population.

Amgen and AstraZeneca previously reported positive top-line results from the NAVIGATOR trial and presented detailed primary endpoint results as part...

More from Respiratory

Cagrisema Leads The Charge For 2025
Mar 10 2025
• By Elizabeth Cairns
2030 sales forecasts for Novo’s obesity hope are an order of magnitude larger than its closest rival among 2025’s expected debutantes.
As More DLL3 Bispecifics Advance, Doctors Are Adjusting To CRS, ICANS
Mar 10 2025
• By Mandy Jackson
Amgen’s Imdelltra for small-cell lung cancer is one of two bispecific T-cell engagers approved for solid tumors, but data at the WCLC meeting show other DLL3-targeting BiTEs may be on the way.
Novo Nordisk’s Semaglutide Shows Promise In Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Mar 10 2025
• By Andrew McConaghie
An academic study of GLP-1 agonist showed promise in patients with the painful skin condition but with no signs that the Danish drugmaker will pursue the indication, smaller players in the space may be interested.
Syros’s AML Failure Sparks MDS Program Jitters, But Fears May Be Overblown
Aug 14 2024
• By Alaric DeArment
Discontinuation of the AML study created concern about potential readthrough to a pivotal MDS trial, but the company and analysts pointed out differences in the diseases.

More from Therapeutic Category

Scrip Data Article Without An Author
Nov 19 2025
"Neque porro quisquam est qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit..."
Spotlight On RDCs, AOCs As Leading Novel Bioconjugates[Updated]
Nov 12 2025
Pipelines in bioconjugates continue to develop, from ADCs to XDCs, with radionuclide drug conjugates (RDCs) and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates (AOCs) leading the expansion.
Fosun ALK/ROS1 Inhibitor Shows 1L Promise In Advanced NSCLC
Nov 12 2025
Interim results from the Phase III REMARK study presented at WCLC showed the Chinese company’s second-generation ALK/ROS1 inhibitor met its primary endpoint as a first-line therapy in ALK-positive advanced NSCLC.