AstraZeneca to assess future of brodalumab development

AstraZeneca is currently assessing the future of its development program for brodalumab, an investigational medicine for patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis. Co-development partner Amgen announced on May 22, 2015, their decision to terminate the co-development and commercialisation agreement for brodalumab.

Amgen stated its decision was driven by a focus on other portfolio priorities, citing observations of suicidal ideation and behaviour events within the brodalumab program, which could lead to restrictive labelling. This development has prompted AstraZeneca to undertake a thorough review of the existing data.

Briggs Morrison, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca, indicated that data from the three Phase III pivotal studies demonstrated brodalumab’s effective mechanism of action and clinical benefit. The company will evaluate the data comprehensively to inform its independent decision on the drug's future.

AstraZeneca plans to confirm its decision regarding the future development of brodalumab as soon as possible. Brodalumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the IL-17 receptor, inhibiting inflammatory signaling pathways.