AstraZeneca Faces Setback in DKD Drug Pipeline

A quarterly update from AstraZeneca revealed that the drugmaker has removed tozorakimab (MEDI3506) from its phase 2 pipeline for diabetic kidney disease (DKD). The drug entered phase 2b for DKD in 2019; the phase 2b study was intended to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tozorakimab but was suspended due to the efficacy data.

Previously, tozorakimab was shown to inhibit interleukin (IL)-33 signaling and thereby reduce inflammation, which is associated with decreased renal function. The trial hypothesis posited that IL-33 inhibition might help patients with DKD on standard of care who have elevated biomarkers of inflammation, such as tumor necrosis factor 1 and/or chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2.

Despite the disappointment, AstraZeneca may still deliver in the DKD drug space with another drug in its pipeline. Zibotentan (ZD4054) is an endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist that binds selectively to the ET-A receptor and stalls ET-mediated mechanisms that promote cell proliferation. AstraZeneca initially began development of zibotentan as an anticancer drug.