AstraZeneca reports positive top-line data from Phase III MIRANDA trial

(Sharecast News) - Drugmaker AstraZeneca reported positive top-line data from its pivotal Phase III MIRANDA trial on Monday, with first‑in‑class candidate tozorakimab delivering a "statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction" in the annualised rate of moderate‑to‑severe COPD exacerbations. AstraZeneca said the benefit was seen in the primary population of former smokers, as well as the overall cohort, which included both former and current smokers across all blood eosinophil counts and all levels of lung‑function impairment.

The FTSE 100-listed firm said patients in the trial received either tozorakimab 300mg or placebo alongside standard therapy every two weeks, with the study enrolling individuals who continued to experience moderate‑to‑severe exacerbations despite inhaled standard of care.

AstraZeneca said tozorakimab was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile in line with earlier studies. AstraZeneca also noted that drug was being evaluated in a Phase III study for severe viral lower respiratory tract disease and in a Phase II trial in asthma.

Sharon Barr, executive vice president of AstraZeneca's bio-pharmaceuticals research and development unit, said: "These data further demonstrate tozorakimab's exciting potential as a first-in-class biologic with a truly differentiated mechanism of action that inhibits the signalling of the reduced and oxidised forms of IL-33 to address underlying drivers of COPD. We look forward to sharing the data with regulators and the scientific community as soon as possible."

As of 0900 BST, AstraZeneca shares were down 0.28% at 15,076p.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com

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