Asthma
Asthma is a common chronic, inflammatory respiratory disease, which can cause breathlessness and wheezing - varying in severity and frequency. It affects the health and day-to-day lives of as many as 339 million individuals worldwide.
Respiratory
Following the science to improve patient outcomes
We are entering an era of unprecedented potential to deliver scientific breakthroughs within asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and chronic cough.
Our overall research ambition for the future is to transform the lives of these patients through our growing portfolio of inhaled combinations at the core of care, biologics for the unmet needs of specific patient populations, and scientific advancements in disease modification with the ambition of achieving remission or even cures for patients.
Our Science
Our focus on unmet needs
We work in diseases where unmet medical need remains significant and, in some cases, where we see an increasing prevalence.
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF)
IPF is a severe progressive chronic respiratory disease which causes irreversible lung damage. IPF progression varies greatly between patients, but over time, most experience increased lung scarring and a gradual decline in lung function. There currently is no cure with survival rates of typically two to five years after diagnosis.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
COPD is a progressive disease which can cause obstruction of airflow in the lungs resulting in debilitating bouts of breathlessness - affecting an estimated 384 million individuals worldwide.
Chronic Cough
Chronic Cough is often linked to inflammatory respiratory disease or reflux disease, but it can also be idiopathic with no recognised cause. For these patients, there are no effective treatments available. Chronic cough can have dramatic physical, social and psychological impact on patients’ lives.
New tools to tackle lung disease
Our overall ambition is to modify respiratory disease and ultimately cure. We believe we can do that by addressing the underlying biological drivers of the disease by focusing on four different mechanistic approaches: Lung Epithelium, Lung Immunity, Lung Regeneration and Neuronal Functions.
We have also expanded our toolbox of drug modalities beyond the more traditional small molecules and monoclonal antibodies, to allow us to target any novel biology we uncover, but also to access targets in the body that were previously seen as hard-to-reach.
Anticalin® molecules
Anticalin® molecules are small engineered proteins mimicking monoclonal antibodies but with the advantage of direct delivery to the lung.
Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides
Immunostimulatory oligonucleotides have the potential to correct imbalances in the immune system that are seen in many asthma sufferers.
Our People
We have the bold ambition to evoke disease modification and cure in patients.
Advancing Clinical Practice
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Building on our 40-year heritage in respiratory disease, we now have the potential to fundamentally change clinical practice, and the way patients are treated and the outcomes they can receive.
Spotlight On: Severe Asthma
Living life one breath at a time. Severe asthma is a debilitating, life-threatening disease that affects as many as an estimated 33 million people worldwide. Our experts shared their thoughts in a recent article in The Economist outlining how this disease continues to be misunderstood and how AstraZeneca is following the science to harness the great potential to improve treatment and outcomes.
PRECISION: Improving the patient journey
A global initiative that seeks to ensure that severe asthma patients can realise better outcomes and experiences through improving the design and delivery of severe asthma care.
Join Our Team
At AstraZeneca Respiratory, we’re driven by innovation and our commitment to make a real-life difference in patients’ lives. That difference starts with you. As one of Science Magazine’s 2018 Top Employer, we need people like you who share our passion for science and determination to meet patients’ needs around the world.
Our Pipeline
Our pipeline forms a robust portfolio of investigational therapies in varied stages of clinical development.
Phase III/Reg. refers to assets that are in Phase III or that have been submitted for regulatory approval and may include assets that are now launched in one or more major markets.
Respiratory (as at 24 October 2019)
Phase I
Phase I
Phase II
Phase II
Phase III
Phase III
LCM Projects
Our Medicines
We cannot provide detailed information about our prescription medicines on this website, in compliance with regulations.
Our medicines are approved in individual countries for specific uses and the information we provide for patients is governed by local regulations. In some cases, health care professionals and patients can visit local AstraZeneca websites to find out more about our medicines. Please note that in some countries we are not allowed to provide very much, or sometimes any, information on our prescription medicines so you should seek alternative trustworthy sources. Always ask a healthcare professional for advice about medicines.
Accolate, Accoleit, Vanticon
zafirlukast
Bevespi Aerosphere
glycopyrronium/formoterol fumarate
Bricanyl Respules
terbutaline
Bricanyl Turbuhaler
terbutaline in a dry powder inhaler
Daliresp/Daxas
roflumilast
Duaklir Genuair
aclidinium/formoterol
Eklira Genuair/Tudorza/Bretaris
aclidinium, a LAMA
Fasenra
benralizumab
Oxis Turbuhaler
Oxis Turbuhaler
Pulmicort Respules
budesonide inhalation suspension
Pulmicort Turbuhaler
budesonide
Rhinocort
budesonide
Symbicort pMDI
budesonide/formoterol
Symbicort Turbuhaler
budesonide/formoterol
Our Resources
Sharing clinical trials information
We publish information about the registration and results of all new and ongoing clinical trials for all products in all phases on our dedicated website.
Information about our medicines
Our medicines are approved in individual countries for specific uses. Visit your local AstraZeneca site to find out more.
Latest news
Veeva ID: Z4-17487
Date of next review: 07/06/2021