AstraZeneca discontinues brazikumab inflammatory bowel disease development programme

The IBD development programme for brazikumab included the Phase IIb/III INTREPID trial in CD and the Phase II EXPEDITION trial in UC, and their respective open-label extension trials.

The decision to discontinue brazikumab’s IBD development follows a recent review of brazikumab’s development timeline and the context of a competitive landscape that has continued to evolve. The timeline was impacted by delays that could not be mitigated following global events. No safety concerns were identified for patients in these trials.

Under an agreement from 2020, AbbVie contributed to ongoing funding of the development programme, but this funding will now cease.

Brazikumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to IL23, thus preventing its interaction with its receptor, and was in development for CD and UC.

AstraZeneca 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 operates in over 100 countries.

Read also: CDSCO nod to AstraZeneca cancer drug Tremelimumab