(Reuters) – Sanofi’s asthma and eczema drug Dupixent has met all of its endpoints in a Phase III trial of the treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ), a common lung disease among smokers, the French pharmaceutical group said on Thursday.

These results should further improve Dupixent’s growth prospects while underlining Sanofi’s strong dependence on its “bestseller”.

Sanofi deemed it premature to update the sales forecasts for its anfi-inflammatory treatment, which represented more than 19% of its overall turnover last year, or 8.3 billion euros out of 43 billion, up 44% excluding currency effects compared to 2021.

The group has previously estimated that Dupixent could peak sales at 13 billion euros in its best year as the treatment is expanded to new conditions, but this forecast does not take into account the use of the drug. to treat COPD.

According to Richard Vosser, an analyst at JPMorgan, the market consensus for Dupixent sales in 2027, which stands at 15.7 billion euros, should be exceeded by around one to two billion euros.

On the Paris Stock Exchange, Sanofi shares rose 4.4% to 94.85 euros at 9:25 a.m., by far the largest increase in the CAC 40, almost unchanged at the same time.

Phase III trial data raises chances that Dupixent will be the first biologic drug approved to treat COPD, a trader has pointed out.

The pivotal trial, carried out in collaboration with the American biotech Regeneron, led to a 30% reduction in acute moderate or severe exacerbations of COPD, a life-threatening condition marked by deterioration of respiratory functions, the two companies said in a statement.

Significant improvements in respiratory function, quality of life and respiratory symptoms due to COPD were also seen, they added.

“HEALTH EMERGENCY”

The trial involved 939 adult smokers or ex-smokers, aged 40 to 80, who received either Dupixent or placebo plus maximum standard inhaled therapy.

“COPD is a real health emergency and a disease notoriously difficult to treat due to its heterogeneity, not to mention that no innovative drug has been approved for its treatment for more than ten years”, noted the president and scientific director. of Regeneron, George Yancopoulos.

“The safety results were generally consistent with the known safety profile of Dupixent in its approved indications. Overall rates of treatment-related adverse events were 77% for Dupixent and 76% for placebo,” said specified Sanofi and Regeneron.

Dupixent has been approved in one or more countries for the treatment of atopic dermatitis, asthma, nasal polyposis, eosinophilic esophagitis or nodular prurigo in certain categories of patients of different ages.

To avoid overreliance on Dupixent, Sanofi is set to launch two new products this year, the hemophilia A treatment Altuviiio and the antiviral drug Beyfortus, launches that are an important test for the group to regain investor confidence. .

Last year, Sanofi’s share price suffered from the termination of an oral treatment project for certain breast cancers which had strong commercial potential.

Investor concerns were also fueled by fears of lawsuits in the United States over Zantac, a treatment against stomach acidity accused in the context of this case of having potentially carcinogenic effects.

(Report Ludwig Burger in Frankfurt, Juby Babu in Bangalore with the contribution of Dina Kartit, Jean-Stéphane Brosse and Blandine Hénault, edited by Kate Entringer)

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