• Amgen and AstraZeneca are actively advancing the clinical exploration of Tezepelumab (TEZSPIRE), a pioneering human monoclonal antibody designed to inhibit thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP). 
• Late-breaking data from a proof-of-concept trial investigating tezepelumab in moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients.
• Tezepelumab unveils compelling efficacy in COPD treatment, achieving a 17% reduction in moderate or severe exacerbations overall.

Tezepelumab, a novel therapeutic, is approved as an adjunctive maintenance treatment for severe asthma in adults and pediatric patients aged 12 and older. Additionally, Tezepelumab is undergoing rigorous clinical development for potential applications in COPD, eosinophilic esophagitis, and nasal polyps.

As of 2023, an estimated 33.34 million individuals across the 7MM (United States, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and Japan), as reported by DelveInsight’s “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) – Market Insight, Epidemiology And Market Forecast – 2034”, are grappling with COPD, presenting a formidable respiratory challenge. Despite the array of pharmaceutical interventions available, the landscape remains fraught with complexities. Amidst this backdrop, Tezepelumab emerges as a beacon of innovation, offering a transformative paradigm in COPD therapeutics.

AstraZeneca and Amgen are set to present detailed findings from the Phase IIa COURSE trial (NCT04039113) for TEZSPIRE (tezepelumab-ekko) in COPD at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2024 International Conference. The Phase IIa proof-of-concept COURSE trial evaluated the efficacy of tezepelumab in patients with moderate to very severe COPD, encompassing a wide spectrum of eosinophil levels and diverse inflammatory profiles, including those with emphysema, chronic bronchitis, and varying smoking statuses. Notably, the study did not exclude participants based on their baseline eosinophil count (BEC), deliberately incorporating patients with a comprehensive range of BECs. The results demonstrated that tezepelumab achieved a numerical reduction in the annualized rate of moderate or severe COPD exacerbations by 17% compared to placebo. Significantly, greater reductions were observed in patients with BEC ≥150 cells/μL, showing a 37% decrease. This trend was even more pronounced in a smaller cohort of subjects with BEC ≥300 cells/μL, indicating a potentially enhanced therapeutic benefit in patients with higher eosinophil counts. 

Furthermore, Tezepelumab’s mechanism of action in blocking TSLP may help in reducing excess inflammation and epithelial remodeling in COPD, potentially leading to improved disease management and reduced exacerbations. By targeting key drivers of inflammation, Tezepelumab offers a new avenue for addressing the complex inflammatory processes involved in COPD, which could contribute to better disease control and potentially reduce the burden of COPD on patients’ lives.

In conclusion, the Phase IIa COURSE trial’s compelling data unveil tezepelumab’s promising efficacy in reducing COPD exacerbations, notably among patients with higher eosinophil counts. This pivotal study underscores tezepelumab’s potential to revolutionize COPD treatment, addressing a critical unmet need with innovative precision. Buoyed by these results, plans are advancing swiftly toward Phase III development, anticipating a profound impact on COPD management. The full dataset, to be unveiled at the forthcoming ATS conference, promises to illuminate tezepelumab’s transformative capabilities further. These advancements are crucial in promptly offering effective treatment options for patients with COPD, aligning with the forecasted expansion of the COPD market from the estimated 2023 market (nearly 12.6 billion) as projected by DelveInsight analysts in the Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Market Forecast Report.