Late-breaking data from the landmark NOTUS and BOREAS phase 3 studies support Dupixent’s role as a potential first-in-class biologic treatment for certain adult patients with uncontrolled COPD with type 2 inflammation
New findings from BOREAS study evaluate the role of biomarkers in predicting improvement in exacerbations and other responses to treatment
First presentation of phase 2b results for rilzabrutinib in asthma which forms the basis for a phase 3 program
Paris, April 26, 2024. Twenty-five abstracts across approved and investigational medicines will be presented at this year’s American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference taking place from May 17-22 in San Diego. Oral presentations will be given on data for Dupixent® (dupilumab), in partnership with Regeneron, evaluating its potential as a treatment for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) from two landmark phase 3 studies. Notable data presentations for Sanofi’s immunology pipeline include the first presentation of phase 2b asthma data for rilzabrutinib, a novel oral BTK inhibitor, and an oral presentation for lunsekimig, a novel IL-13/TSLP Nanobody® VHH, currently in phase 2b development for asthma.
Naimish Patel, M.D.
Global Head of Development, Immunology and Inflammation at Sanofi
“Our robust presence at this year’s ATS conference showcases our novel research across inflammatory respiratory conditions, including COPD and asthma. The results from the pivotal NOTUS and BOREAS phase 3 studies for Dupixent further deepen our understanding of the role that type 2 inflammation plays in COPD and underscore the potential for Dupixent to be the first biologic approved for the treatment of COPD. We’re also excited to present new data for our two pipeline molecules, rilzabrutinib, an oral BTKi, and lunsekimig, our IL-13/TSLP Nanobody VHH, showing their first- and best-in-class potential in asthma. Our collective data at the meeting underscores our commitment and progress to improving the lives of patients suffering from devastating respiratory diseases.”
Dupixent
Notable presentations include new findings from the pivotal phase 3 Dupixent COPD program (NOTUS and BOREAS studies), which showed significant reduction in COPD exacerbations and improvements in lung function. Additionally, research from the VESTIGE phase 4 study, a novel imaging study evaluating the effects of Dupixent on lung function in adult patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma, will be featured as a late-breaking oral presentation. Lastly, multiple poster presentations demonstrate the impact of Dupixent on asthma.
Clinical data in COPD
NOTUS study: detailed efficacy and safety results from the NOTUS phase 3 study evaluating Dupixent in patients with uncontrolled COPD and evidence of type 2 inflammation will be featured in a late-breaking oral presentation. Positive topline data from the study, which showed that Dupixent significantly reduced exacerbations, were previously announced in November 2023.
BOREAS study: findings across six abstracts from the BOREAS phase 3 study will be shared, including an analysis evaluating the treatment-by-biomarker interaction effects in patients with COPD, which will be presented in an oral abstract session as well as data on lung function.
Clinical data in uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma
VESTIGE clinical study: an oral abstract session will feature data on the effect of Dupixent on airway inflammation and mucus plugging in adults with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma.
LIBERTY and VOYAGE studies: additional post-hoc analyses will be shared, including evaluating the impact of asthma duration on the efficacy of Dupixent in patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma, clinical outcomes in patients with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma who received Dupixent as an add-on to medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid, and the efficacy of Dupixent amongst children aged 6-11 with uncontrolled moderate-to-severe asthma.
The safety results of these studies were generally consistent with the known safety profile of Dupixent in its approved respiratory conditions.
Respiratory pipeline
Presentations include data for investigational compounds rilzabrutinib, an oral BTK inhibitor, and lunsekimig, a new IL-13/TSLP Nanobody VHH, in asthma.
Phase 2b study of rilzabrutinib: a poster presentation will show the impact of treatment with rilzabrutinib on loss of asthma control (LOAC) events, asthma symptoms and quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma.
Lunsekimig: an oral presentation will show the impact of lunsekimig on multiple pathological immune cell populations and epithelial cell subpopulations.
About Dupixent
Dupixent is a fully human monoclonal antibody that inhibits the signaling of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13) pathways and is not an immunosuppressant. The Dupixent development program has shown significant clinical benefit and a decrease in type 2 inflammation in phase 3 trials, establishing that IL-4 and IL-13 are two of the key and central drivers of the type 2 inflammation that plays a major role in multiple related and often co-morbid diseases.
Dupixent has received regulatory approvals in more than 60 countries in one or more indications including in certain patients with atopic dermatitis, asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), prurigo nodularis, and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) in different age populations. More than 850,000 patients are being treated with Dupixent globally. Dupixent is currently under Priority Review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an add-on maintenance treatment in certain adult patients with uncontrolled COPD.
About rilzabrutinib
Rilzabrutinib is an investigational oral, reversible, covalent BTK inhibitor that has the potential to be a first- or best-in-class treatment of a number of immune-mediated diseases, including CSU, prurigo nodularis, asthma, immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), IgG4-related disease and warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA). BTK is expressed in B cells, mast cells, eosinophils, basophils and macrophages which play a critical role in multiple immune-mediated disease processes. With the application of Sanofi’s TAILORED COVALENCY® technology, rilzabrutinib can selectively inhibit the BTK target while potentially reducing the risk of off-target side effects.
About lunsekimig
Lunsekimig is an investigational novel nanobody VHH that combines targeting of IL-13, a downstream cytokine causing tissue organ damage in respiratory diseases and TSLP, an upstream initiator of inflammation. Pre-clinical research suggests that the combination of these targets can create more potent effect on type-2 inflammation, making lunsekimig a potentially best-in-class treatment for asthma and a range of other respiratory diseases.
Rilzabrutinib and Lunsekimig are under clinical investigation and their safety and efficacy have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority.
Dupilumab development program
Dupilumab is being jointly developed by Sanofi and Regeneron under a global collaboration agreement. To date, dupilumab has been studied across more than 60 clinical trials involving more than 10,000 patients with various chronic diseases driven in part by type 2 inflammation.
In addition to the currently approved indications, Sanofi and Regeneron are studying dupilumab in a broad range of diseases driven by type 2 inflammation or other allergic processes in phase 3 trials, including chronic pruritus of unknown origin, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with evidence of type 2 inflammation, and bullous pemphigoid. These potential uses of dupilumab are currently under clinical investigation, and the safety and efficacy in these conditions have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.
About Sanofi
We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions.
Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY