The study showed that benralizumab reduced asthma exacerbations by 40-70 percent
AstraZeneca's (AZ) benralizumab, a novel investigational monoclonal antibody for treatment in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma and elevated levels of eosinophil has shown a positive result in mid-stage, phase IIb clinical study.
The trial met its primary endpoint, with patients on benralizumab experiencing a statistically significant reduction in their asthma exacerbation rate versus placebo over a year.
The study showed that the drug reduced asthma exacerbations by approximately 40-70 percent, depending on the dose received and baseline blood eosinophil level.
Mr Bing Yao, head of respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity operations at AZ's MedImmune unit said, "Asthma is a highly heterogeneous disease and this data advances our understanding of patient subtypes, potential biomarkers, and targeted therapies."
