AstraZeneca Discontinues Multiple Drug Programs Amid Pipeline Restructuring

AstraZeneca, the UK-based pharmaceutical giant, has announced significant changes to its drug development pipeline, discontinuing several programs across various therapeutic areas. The company's third-quarter earnings report revealed the termination of multiple drug candidates, including a promising treatment for fatty liver disease and an antibody targeting a rare neurological condition.

MASH Drug Development Halted

AstraZeneca has ceased development of AZD2693, an antisense oligonucleotide that was being evaluated for the treatment of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis. The phase 2b study, which was expected to yield results in the third quarter of this year, was discontinued due to disappointing efficacy data.

Despite this setback, AstraZeneca maintains a presence in the MASH therapeutic area with two other candidates in its pipeline. A GLP-1 agonist is currently in phase 1 trials, while AZD2389, a FAP inhibitor, is scheduled to provide readouts later this year.

Neurology and Oncology Programs Affected

In collaboration with Takeda, AstraZeneca has also terminated work on TAK-341 (also known as MEDI1341), an alpha-synuclein antibody targeting multiple system atrophy. This decision followed Takeda's recent announcement that a global study involving 159 patients failed to meet both primary and secondary endpoints.

Furthermore, AstraZeneca has discontinued two phase 1 oncology assets as part of a strategic portfolio prioritization. These include AZD0022, an oral KRASG12D inhibitor being studied in colorectal cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and non-small cell lung cancer, as well as AZD9829, an anti-CD123/TOP1i antibody-drug conjugate for acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes.

Refocusing on Next-Generation ADCs

While AstraZeneca has achieved success in antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) through its partnership with Daiichi Sankyo, resulting in products like Enhertu and Datroway, the company has now opted to pursue the next generation of ADCs independently. This strategic shift underscores AstraZeneca's commitment to maintaining a leading position in the evolving landscape of targeted cancer therapies.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to face challenges in drug development, AstraZeneca's pipeline restructuring reflects the company's agility in adapting to clinical outcomes and market dynamics. The focus on promising areas such as MASH treatments and next-generation ADCs signals AstraZeneca's determination to allocate resources to the most potential-rich therapeutic avenues.