AstraZeneca PLC (LSE:AZN) has unveiled positive results from two final-stage clinical trials of its asthma treatment candidate, PT027.
The drug met all primary goals, demonstrating significant benefits compared to the individual components of the commonly used albuterol.
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PT027 combines albuterol with budesonide, an inhaled corticosteroid being developed by AstraZeneca and UK private pharma company Avillion.
In the MANDALA trial, which included 3,132 patients, PT027 was effective in reducing the risk of severe asthma attacks when used as a rescue medicine.
In the 1,001-strong DENALI trial the candidate improved lung function.
Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory, fluctuating respiratory disease that affects 339mln adults and children worldwide, including over 25mln in the US.
"All patients with asthma are at risk of severe exacerbations, regardless of their disease severity and many are known to overuse short-acting bronchodilators,” said Mene Pangalos, executive vice president for biopharmaceuticals at the FTSE 100 group.
“These exciting results with PT027 bring us one step closer to providing an innovative and superior treatment approach for asthma by preventing exacerbations."
Shares dipped 1% to 8,199p on Thursday morning.