After Dupixent's patent expires, the clinical trial results of Sanofi (SNY.US)'s next-generation asthma drug are poor

The Zhitong Finance App learned that amlitelimab (amlitelimab), a next-generation experimental asthma drug developed by SNY.US (SNY.US), failed to significantly reduce the number of episodes of the disease, overshadowed the drug's prospects, making it difficult to bear the burden of making up for the losses caused by the expiration of the patent for Sanofi's major drug dupixent (Dupixent).

The French pharmaceutical company said that amlitelimab (amlitelimab) did not achieve the main endpoint of reducing the onset of the disease in mid-term clinical trials at the highest dose; at low to medium doses, it also showed only a “weak effect.”

In early trading on Tuesday, Sanofi shares fell 1.1%. By Monday's close, its share price had risen 5% over the past 12 months.

Despite this, since the drug has shown clinically significant improvements in lung function and asthma control in specific patient subgroups, and can significantly reduce the onset of the disease, Sanofi plans to continue testing it in later clinical trials.

Houman Ashrafian (Houman Ashrafian), head of research and development at Sanofi, said in a statement: “If the initial efficacy we see is confirmed in a phase 3 study, amitrizumab is expected to be an asthma treatment with differentiated advantages.”

Currently, the drug is also being tested to treat atopic dermatitis, and positive results have been achieved.

Jefferies (Jefferies) analyst Benjamin Jackson (Benjamin Jackson) once described amitrizumab as “a product that combines many potentials.” He pointed out in a report last year that the drug may be critical to making up for the loss of Sanofi's approved patent for dupriumab for asthma and skin diseases.