Benralizumab (AstraZeneca) moves into Phase III for Asthma

AstraZeneca has announced the start of the Phase III WINDWARD programme for benralizumab, a potential treatment for severe uncontrolled asthma developed by MedImmune, the company�s global biologics research and development arm. The goal of CALIMA, the first study in the WINWARD programme, is to determine whether benralizumab reduces the number of exacerbations in patients with severe asthma that remains uncontrolled, despite receiving high doses of inhaled corticosteroids in combination with a second controller such as a long-acting beta agonist.

Benralizumab is a monoclonal antibody binding to the interleukin-5 receptor (IL-5R alpha) that depletes eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, which play a critical role in the cause and severity of asthma and asthma exacerbations. Emerging evidence shows that for patients with elevated eosinophil counts, treatment with an IL-5 inhibitor in addition to guideline-based strategies may improve their asthma control and decrease the frequency of asthma attacks.

Benralizumab is in-licensed from BioWa, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd. Under the exclusive license agreement, Kyowa Hakko Kirin/BioWa have exclusive development and commercialisation rights for benralizumab in Japan and certain countries in Asia. AstraZeneca has exclusive rights for benralizumab in all other countries including the US and Europe.