AstraZeneca and Abbott to create diagnostic test for asthma

Abbott will develop and commercialise diagnostic tests to measure serum levels of the proteins periostin and DPP4, which have been identified as potential predictive biomarkers of up-regulated IL-13 in severe asthma.

These tests will be developed in conjunction with the phase III trial of tralokinumab, a potential treatment for patients with severe, inadequately controlled asthma, developed by AstraZeneca's biologics research and development arm MedImmune.

If successful, this project will make it easier to provide personalised therapy options for people affected by severe asthma.

Bing Yao, senior vice-president and head of MedImmune's respiratory, inflammation and autoimmunity innovative medicines unit, said: "This partnership with Abbott to develop companion diagnostics for tralokinumab is an important step in delivering on our ambition to bring innovative options for patients who continue to suffer with severe asthma."

This comes after AstraZeneca allied with the Montreal Heart Institute last week to assess genetic traits associated with cardiovascular conditions and diabetes.