AstraZeneca Touts New COPD Drug

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 9, 2026

AstraZeneca's experimental COPD drug tozorakimab significantly reduced moderate and severe exacerbations by about 30% in two late-stage trials, with even greater benefits seen in patients with high eosinophil levels. This breakthrough positions tozorakimab as a potential major new treatment in the expanding COPD market, with projected peak sales exceeding $5 billion.

AstraZeneca announced that its experimental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) drug, tozorakimab, demonstrated significant benefits across a wide range of patients in two late-stage clinical trials. The results, presented Tuesday at the European Respiratory Society Congress in Barcelona and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed the drug reduced moderate and severe COPD exacerbations by approximately 30% compared with standard therapy.

The U.K.-based pharmaceutical company highlighted that tozorakimab’s effectiveness appeared consistent across different patient subgroups. Notably, those with the highest levels of blood eosinophils—a type of white blood cell—experienced a 43% reduction in exacerbations, while patients with lower eosinophil counts saw a 23% decrease. In addition to lowering the frequency of lung attacks, the drug also reduced mucus plugging in the lungs, which can contribute to breathing difficulties. AstraZeneca reported that tozorakimab was generally well tolerated by patients.

Ruud Dobber, president of AstraZeneca’s biopharmaceuticals unit, described the results as a “scientific breakthrough,” underscoring the importance of the findings for patients affected by COPD, a progressive lung disease that causes breathing problems and is a leading cause of death worldwide.

The positive trial outcomes come at a critical time for AstraZeneca, which has recently faced challenges, including the failure of a heart disease study and speculation about a potential takeover. The company declined to comment on the takeover reports. However, the promising data on tozorakimab have bolstered AstraZeneca’s outlook for the drug.

The company recently raised its forecast for tozorakimab’s annual peak sales to over $5 billion, positioning it to become AstraZeneca’s largest respiratory product. The COPD treatment market generated $11.6 billion in global sales last year and is expected to expand to $14.8 billion by 2033, according to industry data. Analysts project that tozorakimab could become the world’s third-best-selling COPD medication by the early 2030s.

AstraZeneca’s advances with tozorakimab highlight ongoing efforts within the pharmaceutical industry to develop more effective treatments for COPD, a disease with significant unmet medical needs. With these trial results, tozorakimab may become a key player in addressing the growing burden of respiratory illnesses globally.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.