AstraZeneca is to review how to proceed with the phase IIa clinical trial of Synairgen plc’s (LON:SNG) inhaled beta interferon treatment for asthma after too few severe cases were found.
Hard-to-treat cases, known as severe exacerbations, tend to be caused by the common cold and flu.
Unexpectedly, colds did not cause as many of these exacerbations as researchers predicted.
As a result, work has been halted on the INEXAS trial of AZD9412 as its efficacy could not be tested.
AstraZeneca said it will now review the data and study design “before deciding on the best way forward for the programme”. The full results will be available in the first quarter of next year.
It added: "The interim analysis confirmed the positive safety and tolerability profile seen in previous trials, and inhaled IFN-b [interferon beta] remains an interesting treatment opportunity for patients with respiratory disease.”
Richard Marsden, Synairgen's chief executive, said he and the team looked forward to reviewing the “other clinically important qualitative and quantitative measures of the potential effectiveness of AZD9412”.
Mark Brewer, from the broker finnCap, said: "This decision is sensible, in our opinion, given that the patient numbers required to chase this primary endpoint would most probably not be cost effective.
"We note the inadvertent de-risking of AZD9412 in that positive safety and tolerability data was once again demonstrated. AstraZeneca goes on to state that AZD9412 remains an interesting programme and that it is now re-evaluating the study design."
Brewer repeated his 137p a share price target, adding that he is making no changes to his forecasts.