AstraZeneca halts mid-stage trial of asthma candidate AZD9412

Respiratory drug discovery company Synairgen (LSE: SNG) says it has been advised by its development partner AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN) that it has “decided to stop the Phase IIa trial of AZD9412 based on an interim analysis, where an overall very low number of reported severe exacerbations could make primary endpoint conclusions difficult.”

AstraZeneca said it will now review the data and study design “before deciding on the best way forward for the program.” The full results will be available in the first quarter of next year. It added: "The interim analysis confirmed the positive safety and tolerability profile seen in previous trials, and inhaled IFN-b [interferon beta] remains an interesting treatment opportunity for patients with respiratory disease.”

The news on Wednesday sent the share shares of Synairgen – which licensed the inhaled interferon beta program to AstraZeneca in 2014 under at $232 million deal – plunging as much as 34%, while AstraZeneca fell 1.8% to £49.58.