AstraZeneca's anifrolumab succeeds in lupus study

(Sharecast News) - Biopharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca's anifrolumab demonstrated superiority across multiple efficacy endpoints versus placebos in the drug's Phase III TULIP 2 trial.
AstraZeneca said anifrolumab achieved a "statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction" in the treatment of moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus at the end of the 52-week trial, with 47.8% of patients receiving the drug responding favourably, compared with 31.5% of patients on a placebo.

The FTSE 100 resident also noted the TULIP 2 trial showed statistically significant differences in multiple secondary endpoints, with 51.5% of anifrolumab patients receiving oral corticosteroids greater than or equal to 10.0mg achieving a sustained reduction in OCS.

Additionally, 49% of patients receiving anifrolumab with moderate to severe skin disease experienced improved skin manifestations at week 12, the pre-specified timepoint.

Mene Pangalos, AstraZeneca's vice president of biopharmaceuticals research and development, said: "There has only been one new medicine approved for systemic lupus erythematosus in the last 60 years, which is why we are so excited to see the positive TULIP 2 results.

"There is now a strong body of evidence demonstrating the benefit of anifrolumab, and we look forward to bringing this potential new medicine to patients with systemic lupus erythematosus as soon as possible."

As of 0845 GMT, AstraZeneca shares were down 0.15% at 7,237p.