The biopharmaceutical AstraZeneca recently announced key presentations set to spotlight its large respiratory disease medicines repertoire, during the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference in San Francisco through May 18. The data is related to innovative science that targets asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
More than 60 abstracts are set to be presented at the conference.
Highlights include 14 abstracts focused on COPD unmet treatment needs, and on the recently FDA-approved treatment Bevespi Aerosphere (glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate).
Bevespi Aerosphere is a twice-daily, fixed-dose dual bronchodilator that combines glycopyrrolate – a long-acting muscarinic antagonist, and formoterol fumarate – a long-acting beta-2 agonist. The bronchodilator was developed under AstraZeneca’s co-suspension technology, which uses porous, low-density particles to form a stable and homogenized suspension inside a pressurized metered-dose inhaler. The technology prevents sedimentation of drug crystals over time and allows consistent dosing of different drugs.
Some of the presentations will focus on the PINNACLE clinical trial program, which included PINNACLE 1, PINNACLE 2, and the company’s safety extension study, PINNACLE 3. The Phase 3 Pinnacle Program was essential for the drug’s approval by the FDA in April.
Other highlights include new data on biomarkers for benralizumab treatment, an anti–eosinophil monoclonal antibody currently being evaluated in Phase 3 studies for COPD and severe asthma. High baseline blood eosinophils and baseline serum biomarkers of the IL-13 pathway are being evaluated as potential predictors of treatment response to benralizumab.
Researchers will also present relevant breakthrough data on the science behind causes of respiratory diseases that include eosinophilic disease, Th2-driven disease, epithelial-driven pathobiology and autoimmunity, and all factors involved in allergy and autoimmune diseases.
Furthermore, the company will disclose data related to treatment response to the oral inhibitor Daxas (roflumilast) as a follow up therapy with corticosteroids for the treatment of COPD exacerbation.
Tom Keith-Roach, vice pres Global Product Strategy for Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, said respiratory therapy is one of AstraZeneca’s focus concerns.
“It’s exciting that the data being shared at ATS demonstrates how rapidly our pipeline and portfolio are developing. We believe Bevespi Aerosphere and investigational medicines such as benralizumab can make a real difference in the lives of patients living with respiratory conditions worldwide,” Keith-Roach said.