Phase III data strengthens AstraZeneca's asthma drug submission

The Phase III ZONDA trial of benralizumab has shown the drug’s ability to reduce oral corticosteroid (OCS) use in severe asthma patients.

These results, presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2017 International Congress and published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine, show that adding benralizumab to standard of care allowed patients dependent on OCS to significantly reduce or discontinue steroids while maintaining asthma control.

The trial achieved its primary efficacy endpoint, demonstrating statistically-significant and clinically relevant reduction in daily maintenance OCS use with two benralizumab dosing regimens compared with placebo.