Shares of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: REGN) were up as much as 8.2% on Thursday morning after the biotech company announced positive news on Thursday for a phase 3 trial for Dupixent (dupilumab) to treat patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Regeneron's shares are up more than 18% this year, and the stock has a 52-week low of $538.01 and a 52-week high of $812.69.

Regeneron partnered with Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) on the phase 3 trial and said it met all primary and secondary endpoints compared to a placebo on patients with uncontrolled COPD and evidence of type 2 inflammation. The company said that Dupixent is the first biologic therapy to show a significant (30%) reduction in severe or moderate exacerbations of COPD over the course of two years while assisting in lung function and COPD respiratory symptoms.

The trial had 939 current or former smokers who showed improvements in lung function and improved COPD respiratory symptoms. If approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Dupixent will be the first new COPD therapy in a decade. Sanofi's shares were also up more than 6% on the news. 

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Source Fool.com