The purpose of this Phase III study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tozorakimab administered subcutaneously (SC) in adult participants with symptomatic COPD with a history of ≥ 2 moderate or ≥ 1 severe exacerbations of COPD in the 12 months prior to enrolment. Participants should be receiving optimised treatment with inhaled maintenance therapy (ICS/LABA/LAMA triple therapy, or dual therapy if triple is not considered appropriate) throughout at least the last 3 months prior to enrolment.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Participant must be ≥ 40 years of age and capable of giving signed informed consent.
2. Documented diagnosis of COPD for at least one year prior to enrolment.
3. Post BD FEV1/FVC < 0.70 and post-BD FEV1 >20% of predicted normal value
4. Documented history of ≥ 2 moderate or ≥ 1 severe COPD exacerbations within 12 months prior to enrolment.
5. Documented optimised inhaled dual or triple therapy for at least 3 months prior to enrolment.
6. Smoking history of ≥ 10 pack-years.
7. CAT total score ≥ 10, with each of the phlegm (sputum) and cough items with a score ≥ 2

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Clinically important pulmonary disease other than COPD.
2. Radiological findings suggestive of a respiratory disease other than COPD that is significantly contributing to the participant's respiratory symptoms. Radiological findings of pulmonary nodules suspicious for lung cancer, as per applicable guidances, without appropriate follow up prior to randomisation. Radiological findings suggestive of acute infection.
3. Current diagnosis of asthma, prior history of asthma, or asthma-COPD overlap. Childhood history of asthma is allowed and defined as asthma diagnosed and resolved before the age of 18
4. Any unstable disorder, including, but not limited to, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, neurological, musculoskeletal, infectious, endocrine, metabolic, haematological, psychiatric disorder, major physical and/or cognitive impairment that could affect safety, study findings or participants ability to complete the study.
5. COPD exacerbation, within 2 weeks prior to randomization, that was treated with systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics, and/or led to hospitalization.
6. Active significant infection within the 4 weeks prior to randomization, pneumonia within 6 weeks prior to randomization, or medical condition that predisposes the participant to infection.
7. Suspicion of, or confirmed, ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection.
8. Significant COVID-19 illness within the 6 months prior to enrolment.
9. Unstable cardiovascular disorder.
10. Diagnosis of cor pulmonale, pulmonary arterial hypertension and/or right ventricular failure.
11. History of active severe inflammatory bowel disease or colitis within one year prior to enrolment, or unexplained diarrhoea within the 4 weeks prior to randomisation.
12. History of known immunodeficiency disorder, including a positive test for HIV-1 or HIV 2.
13. History of positive test or treatment for hepatitis B or hepatitis C (except for cured hepatitis C)
14. Evidence of active liver disease, including jaundice during screening.
15. Malignancy, current or within the past 5 years, except for adequately treated non-invasive basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and cervical carcinoma-in-situ treated with apparent success more than one year prior to enrolment. Suspected malignancy or undefined neoplasms.
16. Participants who have evidence of active TB.
17. History of partial or total lung resection.
18. Scheduled major surgical procedure during the course of the study.
19. Participants that have previously received tozorakimab.
20. Any clinically significant abnormal findings in physical examination, vital signs, ECG, or laboratory testing during the screening period, which in the opinion of the investigator may put the participant at risk because of their participation in the study, or may influence the results of the study, or the participant's ability to complete the entire duration of the study.

Qualified researchers can request access to anonymized individual patient-level data from AstraZeneca group of companies sponsored clinical trials via the request portal. All request will be evaluated as per the AZ disclosure commitment:

https://astrazenecagrouptrials.pharmacm.com/ST/Submission/Disclosure.

Yes, indicates that AZ are accepting requests for IPD, but this does not mean all requests will be shared.

AstraZeneca will meet or exceed data availability as per the commitments made to the EFPIA/PhRMA Data-Sharing Principles. For details of our timelines, please refer to our disclosure commitment at :

https://astrazenecagrouptrials.pharmacm.com/ST/Submission/Disclosure.

When a request has been approved AstraZeneca will provide access to the anonymized individual patient-level data via secure research environment Vivli.org. A Signed Data Usage Agreement (non-negotiable contract for data accessors) must be in place before accessing requested information.