While DUPIXENT successfully manages chronic inflammatory conditions, it takes weeks to work and doesn't stop all flare-ups. This creates a market opportunity for fast-acting therapeutics that address urgent, emergency room-level episodes, a scenario DUPIXENT is not designed for.
The current standard of care in the ER for acute asthma attacks—steroids and bronchodilators—is insufficient. Almost 50% of these patients relapse and return for more care within 28 days, indicating a critical failure in the treatment continuum and a major opportunity for drugs that offer lasting effects.
Despite FDA readiness for a final Phase 3 trial, Connect Biopharma chose to run more Phase 2 studies. They discovered their long-term asthma drug worked in hours, not weeks, and are now pivoting to prove its value in acute, emergency situations, which informs a stronger, more targeted Phase 3 design.