Tezspire Shows Promise in Reducing Nasal Polyp Symptoms in Phase III Trial for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

(IN BRIEF) A Phase III trial of Tezspire (tezepelumab) by AstraZeneca and Amgen has shown significant benefits for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), reducing both nasal polyp size and congestion compared to a placebo. The WAYPOINT trial demonstrated Tezspire’s effectiveness and consistent safety profile for patients who have not responded well to standard treatments. Researchers emphasized the potential of Tezspire to offer a new treatment option that addresses the multiple inflammatory drivers of CRSwNP.

(PRESS RELEASE) CAMBRIDGE, 8-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — AstraZeneca and Amgen have announced positive Phase III trial results for Tezspire (tezepelumab), showing it significantly reduced nasal polyp size and nasal congestion in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), compared to a placebo. The randomized, double-blind WAYPOINT trial tested Tezspire’s efficacy and safety in adults with severe CRSwNP who continued to experience symptoms despite standard treatments with intranasal corticosteroids (INCS).

Dr. Joseph Han, a leading trial investigator, highlighted the disruptive impact of CRSwNP on patients’ lives, affecting smell, taste, and sleep. He emphasized the promising potential of Tezspire as a new option for those with severe symptoms. Co-primary investigator Dr. Brian Lipworth noted that Tezspire could offer hope to patients who often face repeat surgeries and the side effects of frequent oral corticosteroids. Sharon Barr, Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca, shared that the trial results underscore Tezspire’s novel mechanism, which targets the TSLP protein at the start of the inflammatory process.

Tezspire’s safety and tolerability were consistent with known profiles, and full findings will be shared at an upcoming medical meeting. Already approved for severe asthma in multiple countries, Tezspire is available in pre-filled syringes and auto-injectors for self-administration in the US and EU.

Notes:

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP (nasal polyps))
CRSwNP is a complex inflammatory disorder, characterised by persistent inflammation of the nasal mucosa accompanied by benign growths, called nasal polyps.6,7 Nasal polyps can block nasal passages and lead to breathing problems, difficulty in sense of smell, nasal discharge, facial pain, sleep disturbance and other adverse effects on quality of life.8-10

Epithelial dysfunction and inflammation are important characteristics of chronic rhinosinusitis and impede the ability of the epithelium to act as a physical and immunological barrier against the external environment.11 Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) is an epithelial cytokine that has been implicated in shared pathophysiological processes underlying severe asthma and CRSwNP.10,12

Current treatments for CRSwNP include intranasal and/or systemic corticosteroids, surgery and biologics.8,13-16

Phase III WAYPOINT trial
WAYPOINT is a double-blind, multi-centre, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tezepelumab in adults with severe CRSwNP.1 Participants received tezepelumab or placebo, administered via subcutaneous injection. The trial also included a post-treatment follow-up period of 12-24 weeks for participants who completed the 52-week treatment period.1

The co-primary endpoints of the trial, were change from baseline in total nasal polyp size, measured by the endoscopic total Nasal Polyp Score, and change from baseline in bi-weekly mean nasal congestion, measured by the participant reported Nasal Congestion Score evaluated as part of the daily Nasal Polyposis Symptom Diary.1 Key secondary endpoints included loss of smell; improvement in disease specific health-related quality of life as measured by SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score; Lund-Mackay score; time to surgery decision and/or systemic corticosteroids for nasal polyposis; time to nasal polyposis surgery decision; time to systemic corticosteroids for nasal polyposis; Nasal Polyposis Symptom Diary total symptom score and, in the population with co-morbid asthma, pre-bronchodilator FEV1 at Week 52.

Tezepelumab
Tezepelumab is being developed by AstraZeneca in collaboration with Amgen as a first-in-class human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the action of TSLP, a key epithelial cytokine that sits at the top of multiple inflammatory cascades and is critical in the initiation and persistence of allergic, eosinophilic, and other types of endothelial inflammation associated with severe asthma and other inflammatory diseases.17,18

TSLP is released in response to multiple triggers (including allergens, viruses and other airborne particles) associated with asthma, CRSwNP, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and other diseases.18,19 Expression of TSLP is increased in these patients and has been correlated with disease severity.10,17 Blocking TSLP may prevent the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by immune cells, resulting in the prevention of exacerbations and improved disease control.17,18,20 Tezepelumab acts at the top of the inflammatory cascade and research indicates that targeting TSLP released by the airway epithelium may be a potential approach to treating diseases of the lower airways in the future.17,21,22

Tezspire is approved in the US, the EU and nearly 60 countries for the add-on maintenance treatment of adult and paediatric patients aged 12 years and older with severe asthma.2-5

Beyond CRSwNP, tezepelumab is also in development for other potential indications including COPD and EoE.23,24 In October 2021, tezepelumab was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of EoE. In July 2024, the U.S. FDA granted a Breakthrough Therapy Designation for tezepelumab for the add-on maintenance treatment of patients with moderate to very severe COPD characterised by an eosinophilic phenotype.

Amgen collaboration
In 2020, Amgen and AstraZeneca updated a 2012 collaboration agreement for Tezspire. Both companies will continue to share costs and profits equally after payment by AstraZeneca of a mid single-digit inventor royalty to Amgen. AstraZeneca continues to lead development and Amgen continues to lead manufacturing. All aspects of the collaboration are under the oversight of joint governing bodies. Under the amended agreement, Amgen and AstraZeneca will jointly commercialise Tezspire in North America. Amgen will record product sales in the US, with AZ recording its share of US profits as Collaboration Revenue. Outside of the US, AstraZeneca will record product sales, with Amgen recording profit share as Other/Collaboration revenue.

AstraZeneca in Respiratory & Immunology
Respiratory & Immunology, part of AstraZeneca BioPharmaceuticals is a key disease area and growth driver to the Company.

AstraZeneca is an established leader in respiratory care with a 50-year heritage and a growing portfolio of medicines in immune-mediated diseases. The Company is committed to addressing the vast unmet needs of these chronic, often debilitating, diseases with a pipeline and portfolio of inhaled medicines, biologics and new modalities aimed at previously unreachable biologic targets. Our ambition is to deliver life-changing medicines that help eliminate COPD as a leading cause of death, eliminate asthma attacks and achieve clinical remission in immune-mediated diseases.

AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca’s innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on social media @AstraZeneca

References

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5. Data on File. AstraZeneca. 2024. REF-251231.

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18. Varricchi G, et al. Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin Isoforms, Inflammatory Disorders, and Cancer. Front Immunol. 2018;9:1595.

19. Zhang M, et al. Hypoxia induces the production of epithelial-derived cytokines in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Int Immunopharmacol 2023;121:110559

20. Li Y, et al. Elevated Expression of IL-33 and TSLP in the Airways of Human Asthmatics In Vivo: A Potential Biomarker of Severe Refractory Disease. J Immunol. 2018;200: 2253–2262.

21. Menzies-Gow A, et al. Tezepelumab in Adults and Adolescents with Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma. N Engl J Med. 2021;384:1800-1809.

22. Laidlaw TM et al. Tezepelumab Efficacy in Patients with Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma with Comorbid Nasal Polyps in NAVIGATOR. J Asthma Allergy. 2023 Sep 4:16:915-932.

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Adrian Kemp
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC

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SOURCE: AstraZeneca