AstraZeneca's Tezspire Succeeds in Eosinophilic Esophagitis Trial

AstraZeneca's asthma drug Tezspire has successfully completed a late-stage trial for a chronic inflammatory disorder of the oesophagus, known as eosinophilic esophagitis. This condition affects over 470,000 people in the United States and can cause inflammation and difficulty swallowing.

The study showed that Tezspire, developed with Amgen, significantly reduced inflammation in the oesophagus and eased difficulty in swallowing compared to a placebo. The drug works by blocking a protein called TSLP, which can trigger inflammation in conditions driven by eosinophils, a type of white blood cell.

This is a significant breakthrough for AstraZeneca, as Tezspire is already approved in the United States, European Union, and other countries as an add-on treatment for severe asthma. The company hopes to launch up to 20 new drugs by 2030, with a target of $80 billion in annual sales.

However, AstraZeneca has faced recent setbacks, including the failure of its heart disease drug Wainua and rare disease drug Ultomiris in late-stage trials. The company's shares have fallen 14% since Wainua's trial failure.