Life Sciences News, October 4, 2026

Today in brief

AstraZeneca said tozorakimab lowered moderate-to-severe COPD exacerbations by 30% in OBERON and 29% in TITANIA across current and former smokers.1 Bayer pledged $2.2 billion for a manufacturing facility in the United States.2

Tozorakimab reduced COPD exacerbations in two Phase 3 trials

Among former smokers, exacerbation rates were 29% lower in OBERON and 34% lower in TITANIA with tozorakimab than with placebo.1 The replicate, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials enrolled 2,306 symptomatic patients with a recent history of multiple moderate or at least one severe COPD exacerbation.1

Participants received 300 mg of tozorakimab or placebo every four weeks for 52 weeks, alongside their regular inhaled maintenance treatment.1 Across current and former smokers, rates fell 30% in OBERON and 29% in TITANIA compared with placebo.1

A combined analysis found exacerbation rates fell 43% among patients with blood eosinophil counts of at least 300 cells per microliter, versus 23% among those below 150 cells per microliter.1 Researchers ran the analysis of patients with counts of at least 150 cells per microliter after designing the trials.1

AstraZeneca says tozorakimab is intended to block interleukin-33 signaling and address inflammation and mucus dysfunction.1 Separate trials are studying tozorakimab in severe viral lower respiratory tract disease (Phase 3) and asthma (Phase 2).1 The FDA has given tozorakimab Fast Track status for COPD and severe viral lower respiratory tract disease.1