Diagnostic Tests for Biologic Asthma Therapy Under Development

AstraZeneca and Abbott are teaming up to develop companion diagnostic blood tests that will identify patients with severe asthma who would benefit most from biological tralokinumab therapy.

These diagnostic tests will measure serum levels of periostin and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 proteins, which are potential predictive biomarkers for severe asthma. To date, no such tests have been approved for use in asthma patients.

“We are on the cusp of a new era in personalized healthcare, one which will see great improvements for patients treated with respiratory medicines,” said Bing Yao, a senior vice president of AstraZeneca’s MedImmune unit, which developed tralokinumab. “…We anticipate that physicians will ultimately use these tests to better identify patients likely to benefit most from tralokinumab to bring their condition under control.”

The tests will be developed alongside a phase 3 trial of tralokinumab’s safety and effectiveness in reducing the rate of exacerbations in previously treated adults and adolescents with severe, inadequately controlled asthma.