India Pharma Outlook Team | Thursday, 27 August 2026
AstraZeneca has scored with Tezspire in a third inflammatory disease in a Phase 3 trial. Developed with Amgen, Tezspire met both co-primary endpoints in the late-stage trial for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).
The study showed significant improvements in esophageal inflammation and swallowing difficulties compared with placebo.
The results also held through week 52. The development comes at an important time for AstraZeneca as the company works toward its goal of USD 80 billion in annual sales by 2030. Tezspire generated USD 1.13 billion in sales in 2025, adding commercial weight to the latest trial result.
The Phase 3 trial evaluated Tezspire in adults and adolescents with symptomatic and histologically active EoE. Researchers randomly assigned 368 patients to receive a low dose, high dose, or placebo. Patients received the treatment subcutaneously every four weeks while continuing stable background therapy where applicable.
Tezspire met both co-primary endpoints at week 24. The first measured histologic remission, based on eosinophil levels in esophageal tissue. The second assessed the frequency and severity of dysphagia through the patient-reported Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire.
The treatment produced statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements on both measures. The improvements continued through week 52. The trial also met all key secondary endpoints covering disease severity, endoscopic features and inflammatory remission.
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The latest results strengthen AstraZeneca’s effort to expand Tezspire into additional inflammatory diseases. The monoclonal antibody blocks thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an epithelial cytokine that sits high in several inflammatory pathways.
Tezspire already holds approvals for severe asthma in the US, European Union and more than 70 countries. It also carries approvals for inadequately controlled chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in several markets. The EoE program now provides evidence in another epithelial-driven inflammatory disease.
AstraZeneca and Amgen also continue to evaluate Tezspire in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The companies share global costs and profits under their collaboration, while AstraZeneca leads global development and commercialization outside North America.
The EoE result arrives after several recent setbacks for AstraZeneca’s development pipeline. Reuters reported failures involving Wainua and Ultomiris, while the company also halted a late-stage study of experimental lung cancer drug volrustomig. The company therefore needs successful programs to support its longer-term growth strategy.
Tezspire already generated USD 1.13 billion in sales in 2025, giving the drug an established commercial base. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot aims to reach USD 80 billion in annual sales by 2030 and expects up to 20 new drug launches to support that target.
The company still faces competition in the inflammatory disease market. Tezspire competes with Sanofi and Regeneron’s Dupixent, which has a strong position across several immune-mediated conditions.
Eosinophilic esophagitis affects more than 470,000 people in the US. The chronic inflammatory disorder can cause difficulty swallowing, food impaction and narrowing of the esophagus. Nearly half of patients may not achieve adequate disease control with current first-line treatments such as dietary restrictions, swallowed corticosteroids and proton pump inhibitors.
The positive Tezspire data could therefore create another treatment opportunity for AstraZeneca and Amgen. The companies plan to share the full results with regulators and the scientific community at an upcoming medical meeting.
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