An asthma drug with a new trick up its sleeve. Tezspire (tezepelumab), developed by Amgen and AstraZeneca, achieved disease remission in up to 69% of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) at 24 weeks — compared to just 3.5% on placebo. The benefits held strong through 52 weeks, signaling a potentially powerful new option for this hard-to-treat inflammatory condition.
An asthma drug makes waves in esophageal disease
Tezspire (tezepelumab), a monoclonal antibody already approved for severe asthma, is showing impressive results in a new arena. In a clinical trial for eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) — a chronic inflammatory disorder that causes swelling in the esophagus, making swallowing difficult and sometimes causing food to get stuck — the drug achieved remission in up to 69% of patients at 24 weeks, compared to just 3.5% on placebo.
The drug works by blocking TSLP, a protein that drives the inflammatory pathway underlying both asthma and EoE, suggesting a shared biological mechanism that Amgen and AstraZeneca are now capitalizing on. Crucially, the benefits didn't fade — remission rates remained strong through 52 weeks of treatment.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: EoE is a chronic, often underdiagnosed condition with limited treatment options. Tezspire's strong and durable remission rates could position it as a serious competitor to Dupixent (dupilumab) by Sanofi and Regeneron, which currently dominates the biologic space for EoE.
