Upstream Bio Shares Rally After Positive Asthma Drug Trial

The phase 2 study demonstrated that verekitug successfully lowered the annualized asthma exacerbation rate across all tested dose regimens. Notably, a 100-milligram dose administered every 12 weeks achieved a 56% reduction in exacerbations compared to a placebo. Beyond frequency, the drug showed measurable improvements in lung function and exhaled nitric oxide levels.

Aaron Deykin, the company's chief medical officer, highlighted the results as validation of the drug's potential for best-in-class efficacy paired with the convenience of quarterly administration. Upstream Bio intends to carry this momentum into larger phase 3 trials, with preparations currently underway for a broader patient population. The company confirmed it remains on schedule to launch those late-stage studies for severe asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in the first quarter of 2027.