14th Aug 2014 06:26
LONDON (Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC Thursday said it has started a phase III trial for tralokinumab, a potential treatment for patients with severe, inadequately controlled asthma, developed by the company's global biologics research and development arm MedImmune.
In a statement, the drugs company said the Phase III programme will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of tralokinumab in reducing the rate of asthma exacerbations in adults and adolescents with severe, inadequately controlled asthma despite receiving inhaled corticosteroids plus long-acting ß2-agonist.
The programme will also assess the effect of tralokinumab on lung function, patient-reported asthma symptoms and quality of life, as well as investigate whether potential clinical biomarkers could identify patients who are more likely to respond to tralokinumab, it added.
Tralokinumab is an investigational human monoclonal antibody which potently and selectively neutralises interleukin-13.
Interleukin-13 is a key cytokine that is believed to contribute to the onset of severe and frequent asthma attacks, impaired lung function and other debilitating asthma symptoms by driving inflammation, airway hyper-responsiveness and excessive mucus production.
By Steve McGrath; [email protected]; @stevemcgrath1
Copyright 2014 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Related Shares:
Astrazeneca