AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) has received another clinical setback. 

Top-line data of a phase III trial of its drug Fasenra for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease failed to show a statistically meaningful reduction of what it called 'exacerbations' in patients with the ailment.

Last month, the company announced mixed data from its study of its treatment Imfinzi used in harness with a currently-available medication, tremelimumab, for patients with lung cancer.

Mixed data from lung cancer drug 

It failed to improve the survival chances of sufferers taking it as a third-line treatment. This is a hard to treat group where the outlook is bleak, and analysts said there were no surprises there.

However, a sub-study that assessed Imfinzi on its own measured it against a group of PD-L1-positive patients receiving chemo showed it made “clinically meaningful” difference.

The big read-out for Imfinzi comes later this year when the results of from a further phase III trial are released. This consists of a group of PD-L1-positive patients taking the drug for the first time in combination with tremelimumab.

Returning to Fasenra, results from a second phase III study are expected later this quarter.