Mixed results for Roche's lebrikizumab in asthma

Roche (SIX:ROG; OTCQX:RHHBY) and its Genentech Inc. unit said lebrikizumab ( RG3637) met the primary endpoint of reducing the rate of asthma exacerbations over 52 weeks vs. placebo in the Phase III LAVOLTA I trial to treat severe asthma, but missed the same endpoint in the identical LAVOLTA II study.

In LAVOLTA I, subcutaneous lebrikizumab every four weeks significantly reduced the rate of asthma exacerbations over 52 weeks in patients with higher levels of blood eosinophils or serum periostin ( POSTN), which is produced by epithelial cells as a result of IL-13. Both are biomarkers of airway inflammation, according to Roche. ...