PASSAGE Trial Shows Tezepelumab Benefit in Diverse Asthma Groups: Njira L. Lugogo, MD, MS

The real-world cohort evidence from the PASSAGE clinical trial (NCT05329194), assessing tezepelumab in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma, highlighted commonly underrepresented patient populations.

The abstract outlining these findings was presented at the American Thoracic Society 2026 International Conference, being held in Orlando, Florida, from May 17-20. The evidence showed significant improvements in annualized asthma exacerbation rate (AAER) across all asthma phenotypes and underrepresented populations in the cohort. More specifically, tezepelumab decreased AAER by 70% (95% CI, 63%-75%) overall, and by 54% to 77% across all phenotypes and patient populations. ¹

The asthma phenotypes and underrepresented populations included in the cohort were those with comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, blood eosinophil counts greater than or less than 300, smokers, and Black and adolescent patients.

“These patient populations really suffer tremendously,” Njira Lugogo, MD, MS, lead study author and director of the Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine's Asthma Program at University of Michigan Health, said in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®. “They have the highest health care burden, loss of lung function, and steroid exposure.”

Lugogo continued to emphasize the importance of real-world evidence and how it influences clinical practices and treatment strategies for niche patient populations.

“What was really interesting in participating in this study and being one of the primary investigators was this idea of expanding beyond the clinical trial population,” she said. “[For these populations], we are often left without data, and we just don’t know if it’s going to work. And being confident that it’s going to work in these populations gives you that reassurance that this is the right thing to do.”

Lugogo continued to emphasize that evidence of the treatment’s success is important for patient assurance, as it encourages them to adhere to their treatment long term to see significant differences in biomarkers and overall quality of life.

Reference

1. Lugogo NL, Akuthota P, Sumino K, et al. Tezepelumab in diverse real-world patients with severe asthma across different phenotypes and underrepresented populations: final results from the US phase 4 PASSAGE study. Presented at: American Thoracic Society 2026 International Conference; May 17-20, 2026; Orlando, FL. Poster P1428.