AstraZeneca Says Drug for Deadly Lung Disease Cuts Flare-ups (1)

AstraZeneca Plc’s experimental drug for the deadly lung condition COPD helped reduce the worsening of symptoms in two late-stage trials, the British drugmaker said.

The two studies showed that tozorakimab brought statistically significant reductions in exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, also called COPD. Exacerbations are a sudden worsening of symptoms, which can include more breathlessness and an increased cough. AstraZeneca’s tozorakimab is a monoclonal antibody drug that targets interleukin-33 — a protein that can increase lung inflammation in patients with COPD.

The company’s shares rose as much as 3.8% in early London trading, broadly matching gains since the ...