COPD trial wins spur broad respiratory hopes
AstraZeneca's tozorakimab, an IL-33-targeted antibody, reduced COPD exacerbations by up to 30% in current and former smokers in two trials, with an FDA decision expected in the first quarter of 2027. Unlike dupilumab and mepolizumab, it worked across patients with all blood eosinophil counts, addressing non-eosinophilic COPD. The success, after mixed results for other IL-33 agents like itepekimab, is reviving industry interest in IL-33 and alarmin targets across respiratory disease.
Why it matters: First IL-33 win in COPD works regardless of eosinophil count, reshaping the inflammatory biologic landscape.