AstraZeneca’s Fasenra: A Bit of a Let‑down
What happened in the latest study?
Goal #1 – Inhibit white‑blood cells (eosinophils) that clog up the esophagus.
Result:* Fasenra did the job.
Goal #2 – Relieve swallowing trouble (dysphagia).
Result:* Nope, the numbers didn’t line up. Patients aged 12 and older still had the same hiccup‑like symptoms.
So, while the drug makes the esophagus’s immune cells behave, it leaves people struggling to swallow the same way.
Why the research matters
Eosinophilic esophagitis is like an unwanted houseguest—an inflammation that turns the esophageal lining into a rough, scarred wall. People usually get stuck in a cycle of corticosteroids and menu overhauls to keep calm. Fasenra could be a game‑changer by targeting the root cause instead of just masking the symptoms.
But the current results are a reminder that even the best science can have its PSA moments.
Competition on the field
Dupixent (Sanofi/Regeneron) swooped in earlier this year, ditching the “wash‑out” approach for a direct attack on the disease’s backstage crew.
Fasenra: Up to now, a top‑selling drug with a 1.26 billion‑USD 2021 haul across the globe.
What’s next for AstraZeneca?
They’ll dig deeper into the full 210‑patient dataset and aim to share the conclusions at an upcoming medical conference.
Credit Suisse’s analysts are skeptical about the drug’s chance for broader approval, since the recent data shows no clear benefit for patients when swallowing remains unchanged.
Bottom line
The study highlights a mixed reality: Fasenra can silence the inflammatory party in the esophagus, but it doesn’t quiet the symptom chatter.
There’s a long road ahead, and the company’s strategy will depend on whether further analysis uncovers hidden wins.
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