- Verekitug was generally well tolerated in the 478-patient study, supporting its safety profile.
- Verekitug reduced asthma attacks by 56% with 100 mg, and 39% with 400 mg compared to placebo.
- Upstream has begun planning Phase 3 studies.
Shares of Upstream Bio Inc. (UPB) crashed more than 40% on Wednesday despite the company announcing positive top-line results from its Phase 2 VALIANT trial evaluating Verekitug in adults with severe asthma.
Details Of The Test
Verekitug, which targets the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) receptor, reduced annual asthma attacks by 56% with 100 mg and 39% with 400 mg compared to placebo. Patients also showed improved lung function. Patients received Verekitug every 12 weeks for the 100 mg dose or every 24 weeks for the 400 mg dose.
Verekitug was generally well tolerated in the 478-patient study, supporting its safety profile. More than 90% of eligible participants have enrolled in the VALOUR long-term extension trial to further assess the treatment’s durability.
“We intend to rapidly advance verekitug into Phase 3 trials in severe asthma and CRSwNP. In parallel, we also continue to progress verekitug in our ongoing Phase 2 VENTURE trial in patients with COPD, where we have enrolled more than 60% of patients to date,” said Rand Sutherland, MD, Chief Executive Officer of Upstream Bio.
Phase 3 Studies Update
Upstream Bio structured the VALIANT trial with endpoints intended to support potential approval filings, and has begun planning Phase 3 studies in severe asthma and CRSwNP, with registrational trials expected after regulatory discussions.
The results reportedly aligned exactly with Amgen’s (AMGN) Tezspire in effectiveness. The drug requires 210 milligrams every four weeks.
How Did Stocktwits Users React?
Despite the sharp intraday decline, retail sentiment for UPB on Stocktwits turned ‘extremely bullish’ from ‘bearish’ a day earlier, amid ‘extremely high’ message volumes.
One user said the market reaction was ‘unwarranted’.
Another user saw a buying opportunity.
Year-to-date, the stock has declined more than 40%.
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