Systemic Corticosteroids Avoidance Study in Severe Asthma Patients

Phase 3

Terminated

• Conditions: Asthma
• Interventions: Drug: QAW039 150 mg once daily; Drug: QAW039 450 mg once daily; Drug: Placebo once daily

• Registration Number: NCT03629249
• Lead Sponsor: Novartis Pharmaceuticals

Brief Summary

The overall purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of fevipiprant (150 mg and 450 mg once daily), compared with placebo, as add-on to standard-of-care asthma therapy, in terms of avoidance of corticosteroid use over 52 weeks.

Detailed Description

This was a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study to determine the ability of fevipiprant (QAW039) plus standard-of-care (SoC) compared with placebo plus SoC to reduce the use of systemic corticosteroids (SCS) in patients with severe asthma. The study included:

* a Screening period of up to 2 weeks to assess eligibility;

* a Run-in period of 4 or 10 weeks to evaluate maintenance of asthma control and to collect baseline safety data. The Run-in period was 4 weeks for patients coming with high-dose ICS/LABA (inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting beta-agonist) and 10 weeks for patients switching from mid-dose to high-dose ICS/LABA as per protocol during the run-in period;

* a Treatment period of 52 weeks. Upon completion of the Run-in period, all patients who met eligibility criteria were randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups (fevipiprant 150 mg or 450 mg or placebo once daily) in a ratio 1:1:1. Randomized patients were stratified according to their peripheral blood eosinophil count (\< 250 cells/μl or ≥ 250 cells/μl);

* a Follow-up period of 2 weeks following the last dose of study drug to collect additional data for safety variables.

The main purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of fevipiprant (150 mg and 450 mg once daily), compared with placebo, as add-on to GINA (Global Initiative for Asthma) treatment step 4 or 5 SoC asthma therapy in terms of avoidance of SCS use over 52 weeks in patients with inadequately controlled severe asthma and high eosinophil counts (eosinophil count at Visit 1 ≥250 cells/ μl) and in the overall patient population regardless of eosinophil counts.

On 16-Dec-2019 the sponsor decided to terminate study CQAW039A2323 earlier than the planned study completion. There were no safety findings with fevipiprant that contributed to this decision. The planned treatment period of 52 weeks was not completed by any patient; patients were treated for a median time of 14 weeks in each group and a maximum of up to 36 weeks.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2018-08-09
• Study First Submitted QC: 2018-08-09
• Study First Posted: 2018-08-14
• Study Start: 2018-12-13
• Primary Completion: 2020-02-06
• Study Completion: 2020-02-06
• Disposition First Submitted: 2020-06-11
• Disposition First Submitted QC: 2020-06-11
• Disposition First Posted: 2020-06-12
• Results First Submitted: 2021-01-13
• Results First Submitted QC: 2021-01-13
• Results First Posted: 2021-02-02
• Status Verified: 2021-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-10-07
• Last Update Posted: 2021-10-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 604

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients with a diagnosis of asthma for a period of at least 3 months prior to Screening Visit with current asthma severity step 4 or 5 (GINA 2018)
• Currently on treatment with medium or high dose ICS/LABA +/- other controller (i.e.long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA), leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA) etc. as per GINA) for a minimum of 6 weeks prior to Screening Visit
• At screening, patients with FEV1 of ≤80% of the predicted normal value for the patient, after withholding bronchodilators at Screening Visit and beginning of Run-In Visit
• An increase of ≥12% and ≥200 ml in FEV1 approximately 10 to 15 minutes after administration of 400 mcg of salbutamol/albuterol prior to randomization (documented historical reversibility was accepted).
• Demonstration of inadequate control of asthma based on an ACQ-5 score ≥1.5 at Screening Visit and Treatment Day 1 Visit
• Documented history of at least 1 asthma exacerbation within 1 year prior to enrollment

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Exclusion Criteria

• Asthma exacerbation, within 6 weeks prior to enrollment (screening) that required SCS, hospitalization, or emergency room visit
• Chronic/maintenance use of oral corticosteroids (OCS) for asthma (total OCS use days greater than 6 months; continuously or intermittently) within the last year
• Prior use of biologics that has potential to interfere/ affect asthma disease progression, in the previous 6 months from run-in period.
• Any contraindications of SCS use e.g. diabetes, narrow angle glaucoma, or any other as defined by the treating physician
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women
• Use of other investigational drugs within 5 half-lives of enrollment, or [within 30 days], whichever is longer

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Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
QAW039 150 mg	QAW039 150 mg once daily	QAW039 150 mg once daily orally
QAW039 450 mg	QAW039 450 mg once daily	QAW039 450 mg once daily orally
Placebo	Placebo once daily	Placebo to QAW039 once daily orally

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Total Systemic Corticosteroid Dose in mg Prednisone/Prednisolone or Equivalent Over 52 Weeks in the Overall Population	52 weeks	All participants were provided with prednisone/prednisolone (or equivalent) tablets that could be used according to the asthma plan along with an electronic diary (e-Diary/ePEF). Daily use of oral corticosteroids (number of tablets taken in the previous 12 hours) was recorded once in the morning and once in the evening by the subject in the eDiary/PEF device. In case of use of injectable corticosteroids during certain circumstances (eg. hospitalization) the data was collected on the eCRF (electronic case report form).; The total systemic corticosteroids (SCS) dose data was aggregated into monthly data for analysis. For the patients discontinuing treatment early, the total SCS dose for 52 weeks was obtained as annualized SCS dose. For example if patient took 120 mg for 3 months then for 12 months patient will be taking 120\*12/3=480mg total SCS dose.; The mean values over 52 weeks in the overall patient population regardless of peripheral blood eosinophil counts are reported here.
Total Systemic Corticosteroid Dose in mg Prednisone/Prednisolone or Equivalent Over 52 Weeks in the Subpopulation of Patients With High Eosinophil Count (≥ 250 Cells/µl)	52 weeks	All participants were provided with prednisone/prednisolone (or equivalent) tablets that could be used according to the asthma plan along with an electronic diary (e-Diary/ePEF). Daily use of oral corticosteroids (number of tablets taken in the previous 12 hours) was recorded once in the morning and once in the evening by the subject in the eDiary/PEF device. In case of use of injectable corticosteroids during certain circumstances (eg. hospitalization) the data was collected on the eCRF (electronic case report form).; The total systemic corticosteroids (SCS) dose data was aggregated into monthly data for analysis. For the patients discontinuing treatment early, the total SCS dose for 52 weeks was obtained as annualized SCS dose. For example if patient took 120 mg for 3 months then for 12 months patient will be taking 120\*12/3=480mg total SCS dose.; The mean values over 52 weeks in the subpopulation of patients with high peripheral blood eosinophil count at baseline are reported here.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change From Baseline in Daytime Symptom Scores	Baseline, up to Week 29-32	All participants were provided with an electronic diary (eDiary/ePEF) to record asthma symptom twice per day. Daytime asthma symptoms were assessed before bed and nighttime asthma symptoms on awakening.; The daytime asthma symptom score included 4 questions with a range of response categories for each question from 0 to 6 (0 = totally controlled; 6 = extremely poorly controlled). The questions were equally weighted and the overall score (from 0 to 6) was calculated as the average of the 4 questions with higher values indicating more asthma symptoms.; Mean values of daytime asthma symptom scores were calculated over 4-week intervals during the treatment period.; The baseline values of daytime asthma symptoms scores were defined as the average score during the run-in period.; A negative change from baseline in daytime asthma symptom score is a favorable outcome.
Change From Baseline in AQLQ+12 Total Score up to End of Treatment Visit	Baseline, up to Week 28	The Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ+12) was completed by the patients at the investigator's site. The AQLQ+12 is a 32-item disease specific questionnaire designed to measure functional impairments that are most important to patients with asthma. Patients were asked to recall their experiences during the previous 2 weeks and to score each of the 32 items on a 7-point scale, where 1 indicates maximal impairment and 7 indicates no impairment. Thus, higher scores indicate better asthma-related quality of life. Each item of the AQLQ+12 was equally weighted and the overall score was the mean score of all 32 items and therefore ranged between 1 and 7.; The baseline values of AQLQ+12 score were defined as the AQLQ+12 scores obtained on Day 1.; A positive change from baseline in AQLQ+12 score is a favorable outcome.
Change From Baseline in ACQ-5 Total Score up to End of Treatment Visit	Baseline, up to Week 28	The Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-5) was completed by the patients at the investigator's site. Patients were asked to recall how their asthma had been during the previous week and to respond to the symptom questions on a 7-point scale (0=no impairment, 6=maximum impairment). The questions were equally weighted and the ACQ-5 score was the mean of the 5 questions and therefore between 0 (totally controlled) and 6 (severely uncontrolled).; The baseline values of ACQ-5 score were defined as the ACQ-5 scores obtained on Day 1.; A negative change from baseline in ACQ-5 score is a favorable outcome.
Percentage of Patients With Prescription of Biologic Therapy	Up to 36 weeks	As part of the flexible therapy, investigators were allowed to prescribe biologics approved for asthma from randomization visit onwards. Prescription of biologic therapy during the treatment period was recorded.; The proportion of patients with prescription of biologic therapy during the on-treatment period is presented in this record.
Change From Baseline in Nighttime Symptom Scores	Baseline, up to Week 29-32	All participants were provided with an electronic diary (eDiary/ePEF) to record asthma symptom twice per day. Daytime asthma symptoms were assessed before bed and nighttime asthma symptoms on awakening.; The nighttime asthma symptom score included 1 question with a range of response categories from 0 to 3 (0 = no awakening with asthma symptoms; 3 = awake all night).; Mean values of nighttime asthma symptom scores were calculated over 4-week intervals during the treatment period.; The baseline values of nighttime asthma symptoms scores were defined as the average score during the run-in period.; A negative change from baseline in nighttime asthma symptom score is a favorable outcome.
Percentage of Patients Requiring ≥ 7.5 mg Systemic Corticosteroid Dose in mg Prednisone/Prednisolone or Equivalent Per Day Continuously for at Least 30 Days	Up to 36 weeks	All participants were provided with prednisone/prednisolone (or equivalent) tablets that could be used according to the asthma plan along with an electronic diary (e-Diary/ePEF) to record medication use. Daily use of oral corticosteroids (the number of tablets taken in the previous 12 hours) was recorded once in the morning and once in the evening by the subject using the eDiary/PEF device. In case of use of injectable corticosteroids during certain circumstances (eg. hospitalization) the data was collected on the eCRF (electronic case report form).; The percentage of patients requiring ≥ 7.5 mg systemic corticosteroid dose in mg prednisone/prednisolone (or equivalent) per day continuously for at least 30 days within the on-treatment period is presented in this record.
Percentage of Patients With no Systemic Corticosteroids Use	Week 36	All participants were provided with prednisone/prednisolone (or equivalent) tablets that could be used according to the asthma plan along with an electronic diary (e-Diary/ePEF) to record medication use. Daily use of oral corticosteroids (the number of tablets taken in the previous 12 hours) was recorded once in the morning and once in the evening by the subject using the eDiary/PEF device. In case of use of injectable corticosteroids during certain circumstances (eg. hospitalization) the data was collected on the eCRF (electronic case report form).; The percentage of patients with no systemic corticosteroids use up to visit on Week 36 is presented in this record.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Novartis Investigative Site; 🇻🇳 Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam