AstraZeneca drug tozorakimab reduces COPD exacerbations in Phase 3 trials

AstraZeneca has reported positive results from two Phase 3 clinical trials, OBERON and TITANIA, regarding its experimental drug tozorakimab for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The findings, presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, indicate that the drug significantly reduces moderate to severe exacerbations.

Tozorakimab is a first-in-class monoclonal antibody that targets interleukin-33 (IL-33) to block inflammatory processes. In the trials, the drug reduced exacerbations by approximately 29% to 34% among former smokers and roughly 29% to 30% in the broader population of current and former smokers. Notably, the treatment showed efficacy across various blood eosinophil levels, providing an option for patients who typically see little benefit from existing biologics.

The drug was generally well-tolerated, with injection-site reactions noted as the primary adverse effect. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted tozorakimab for priority review as an add-on maintenance therapy for adults with COPD. AstraZeneca is also investigating the drug's potential application for asthma and bronchiectasis.