AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, will present new data on its respiratory portfolio and pipeline at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) International Congress, 9-13 September 2017 in Milan, Italy. The breadth and depth of science are reflected in the 48 accepted abstracts, including 11 oral presentations, which will focus on areas of unmet treatment needs in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Highlights will cover rapidly-advancing research on the next generation of biologics that target the underlying drivers of respiratory disease. In particular, the full tezepelumab PATHWAY Phase IIb data in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma will be presented as a late-breaking abstract at ERS. Tezepelumab is a first-in-class biologic targeting thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an upstream ‘master-switch’ that drives multiple inflammatory pathways in asthma. Additionally, a new analysis of the benralizumab SIROCCO and CALIMA Phase III trials in severe, uncontrolled asthma will reinforce the potential new medicine’s efficacy and will identify those patients who may have an enhanced response to the new medicine.

Tom Keith-Roach, Vice President, Respiratory at AstraZeneca, said: “The tezepelumab and benralizumab data at the ERS Congress represent the next generation of respiratory biologics that have the potential to truly transform asthma care by targeting the underlying causes of the disease. Respiratory is one of AstraZeneca’s three main therapy areas and we are excited to demonstrate the strength of our science and the breadth of our rapidly-expanding portfolio with 48 abstracts covering emerging science and new inhaled treatment paradigms.”

Advancing biologics in severe, uncontrolled asthma

Results from the tezepelumab PATHWAY Phase IIb study which evaluates the impact of tezepelumab on exacerbations in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma (Late-breaking abstract OA3189 with oral presentation).

Growing body of data to support benralizumab – a potential new medicine

Post-hoc analysis of the benralizumab SIROCCO and CALIMA Phase III trials which identifies key factors that predict an enhanced response to benralizumab for severe, uncontrolled asthma (Late-breaking abstract OA2902 with oral presentation). Benralizumab attenuates airway eosinophilopoietic processes in prednisone-dependent asthma (Abstract OA3217 with oral presentation). Asthma patients with high blood eosinophil counts have a greater risk of rehospitalisation for exacerbations (Abstract OA3214 with oral presentation).

New evidence on the protective benefit of Symbicort (budesonide/formoterol) in COPD patients at risk of exacerbation

Results from INCONTROL, a first-of-its-kind post-hoc analysis of a large pooled data set of Phase III COPD studies, investigate patient characteristics that may interact with the treatment response to budesonide/formoterol versus formoterol alone. The analysis also examines the relationship between blood eosinophil levels, risk of exacerbation and treatment selection in COPD (Abstract PA394 with poster discussion).

Breakthrough science in disease modification

Data highlighting our evolving scientific understanding of disease modification and personalised medicine, including:

New data on the role of rhinovirus infection as a cause of the dysfunctional anti-bacterial mechanisms contributing to exacerbations in COPD (Abstract OA286 with oral presentation). Novel approaches for the segmentation of asthma patients based on biological disease drivers such as activation of eosinophils, Th17 and PI3Kgd (Abstracts PA1131, PA569 with poster discussion, late-breaking abstract OA2933 with oral presentation, and PA4920 with poster discussion).

Breakthrough science in drug delivery technology
New data evaluates how Functional Respiratory Imaging (FRI) helps characterise the physiological effect of PT003 (glycopyrrolate/formoterol fumarate MDI) formulated using the novel AerosphereTM Delivery Technology, supporting lung function endpoint improvements in COPD. (Late breaking abstract OA4404 with podium presentation)