A Phase II Study of Ensifentrine in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Phase 2

Recruiting

• Conditions: Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis
• Interventions: Drug: Nebulized Placebo Solution; Drug: Nebulized Ensifentrine Suspension; 3 mg

• Registration Number: NCT06559150
• Lead Sponsor: Verona Pharma plc

Brief Summary

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ensifentrine inhalation suspension (3 mg) delivered twice daily via standard jet nebulizer over at least 24 weeks, compared to placebo, in subjects with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE).

Detailed Description

The primary objective of this study is to assess the effect of ensifentrine vs placebo in addition to standard of care on pulmonary exacerbations, symptoms and quality of life in participants with NCFBE. The study is designed as a pulmonary exacerbation event-driven study where participants will be treated for ≥ 24 weeks and until at least 120 subjects have experienced at least 1 protocol-defined pulmonary exacerbation. Participants will be randomized to receive either ensifentrine suspension or placebo via standard jet nebulizer during the treatment period and neither participants nor study staff will know which a participant is receiving.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2024-08-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-08-14
• Study First Posted: 2024-08-19
• Study Start: 2024-09-11
• Status Verified: 2025-06
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-06-26
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2026-09
• Study Completion: 2026-09-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 180

Inclusion Criteria

• Males are eligible to participate if they agree to use contraception as described in the contraceptive guidance from Screening and throughout the study and for at least 30 days after the last dose of blinded study medication

• Females are eligible to participate if they are not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and 1 of the following conditions apply:

  1. Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) OR
  2. A WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance from Screening throughout the study and for at least 30 days after the last dose of blinded study medication

• Clinical history consistent with bronchiectasis (cough, chronic sputum production, and/or recurrent respiratory infections) confirmed by chest CT demonstrating bronchiectasis affecting 1 or more lobes. Confirmation may be based on prior chest CT within the prior 5 years; subjects whose past CT image records are not available will require chest CT scan during screening Notes: If a subject has no clinical history consistent with bronchiectasis, they may not be re-screened

• Current sputum producer with a history of chronic expectoration and able to provide sputum sample spontaneously at the clinic during screening

• ≥ 1 documented pulmonary exacerbation defined by an antibiotic prescription by a physician for the signs and symptoms of respiratory infections in the past 12 months before screening

• Capable of using the study nebulizer correctly

• Ability to perform acceptable spirometry in accordance with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines

Exclusion Criteria

• A diagnosis of COPD or a primary diagnosis of asthma, as judged by the investigator

• Bronchiectasis due to cystic fibrosis, hypogammaglobulinemia common variable immunodeficiency, severe immunodeficiency, or requirement for treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin

• Current smoker defined as by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Former cigarette smokers with a history of cigarette smoking ≥ 10 pack years at Screening [number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) × number of years smoked (e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years)]. Pipe and/or cigar use cannot be used to calculate pack-year history. Former smokers are defined as those who have stopped smoking for at least 6 months prior to Screening

• A diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia

• Current treatment for nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infection, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, or tuberculosis

• Presence of acute exacerbation or acute infection that required acute treatment within 28 days of randomization

• Use of the following prohibited medications within the designated time periods:

  1. Immunomodulatory agents for any indication (including but not limited to the following: methotrexate, systemic corticosteroids, see adalimumab, azathioprine, dupilumab, cyclosporine) within 90 days prior to signing the ICF
  2. CFTR modulators (e.g., ivacaftor, lumacaftor, tezacaftor) within 1 week prior to signing the ICF
  3. Theophylline and PDE4 inhibitors (e.g., roflumilast, apremilast, crisaborole) within 48 hours prior to signing the ICF
  4. Brensocatib within 3 months or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to signing the ICF
  5. Ohtuvayre at any time prior to signing the ICF

• Initiated or altered therapy within 90 days of randomization with:

  1. oral or inhaled antibiotics as chronic treatment
  2. Cyclic antibiotics: defined as prescribed regular cycles of on antibiotic treatment and off antibiotic treatment (for example, but not limited to, 28 days on an antibiotic and 28 days off an antibiotic). Note: Subjects on cyclic antibiotics must be actively taking antibiotics for at least 7 days prior to randomization and through the day of randomization

• Initiated or altered therapy with ICS within 4 weeks prior to randomization

• Unable to withhold short-acting beta-agonists or short-acting muscarinic antagonists for ≥ 4 hours prior to spirometry

• Significant hemoptysis (≥ 300 mL or requiring blood transfusion) within 6 weeks prior to randomization

• Currently participating in or scheduled to participate in an intensive pulmonary rehabilitation program (a maintenance rehabilitation program is allowed if their schedule and procedure will be consistent for the duration of the study)

• Current or chronic history of unstable liver disease defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices or persistent jaundice, cirrhosis, or known hepatic or biliary abnormalities except for a diagnosis of Gilbert syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones Note: Chronic stable hepatitis B and C is not exclusionary if the subject otherwise meets study entry criteria

• History of or current malignancy of any organ system, treated or untreated within the past 5 years, except for localized basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin

• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min

• Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 2 × upper limit of normal (ULN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥ 2 × ULN, alkaline phosphatase and/or bilirubin > 1.5 × ULN (isolated bilirubin > 1.5 × ULN is acceptable only in subjects with a diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome)

• Participation in any other interventional, clinical studies (drugs or devices) within 30 days before Day 1, or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer

• Intolerance of or hypersensitivity to ensifentrine or any of its excipients/components

• Current or history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past 5 years

• Significantly abnormal ECG finding

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Treatment Arm 2: Placebo	Nebulized Placebo Solution	-
Treatment Arm 1: Ensifentrine	Nebulized Ensifentrine Suspension; 3 mg	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Rate of protocol-defined pulmonary exacerbations (number of events per subject-year)	Through study completion (a maximum of 3 years from the date of randomization)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Time to the onset of the first protocol-defined pulmonary exacerbation	Through study completion (a maximum of 3 years from the date of randomization)
Mean change from Baseline in Evaluating Respiratory Symptoms (E-RS) Cough and Sputum Domain score	Baseline, Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24	The E-RS is a patient reported outcome that is derived from the EXAcerbation of Chronic Pulmonary Disease Tool (EXACT)-PRO in the participants e-diary, to quantify the severity of symptoms. The score ranges from 0 to 40 with a higher score representing more severe symptoms.
Mean change from Baseline in Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score	Baseline, Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24	SGRQ scores range from 0 to 100, with a higher score representing worse health.
Mean change from Baseline in quality of life - bronchiectasis questionnaire (QOL-B) Respiratory Symptoms Domain score	Baseline, Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24	The QOL-B Respiratory Symptoms Domain score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores representing better functioning.
Mean change from Baseline in Chronic Airways Assessment Test (CAAT) score	Baseline, Week 6, Week 12, and Week 24	CAAT scores range from 0-40 with a higher score representing worse health.
Mean change from Baseline in Percent of the predicted forced expiratory volume over 1 second (FEV1)	Baseline, Week 12, and Week 24
Incidence of Adverse Events	Through study completion (a maximum of 3 years from the date of randomization)
PK Sub-study only: Ensifentrine area under the curve from time 0 to 12 hours (AUC 0 -12)	Week 12, Week 18, and Week 24
PK Sub-study only: Ensifentrine maximum plasma drug concentration (Cmax)	Week 12, Week 18, and Week 24
Pharmacokinetic (PK) Sub-study only: Ensifentrine time to Cmax (tmax) post morning dose	Week 12, Week 18, and Week 24

Trial Locations

Locations (39)

Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital; 🇺🇸 Birmingham, Alabama, United States

So Cal Institute for Respiratory Diseases, Inc.; 🇺🇸 Los Angeles, California, United States

University of California Davis Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Sacramento, California, United States

National Jewish Health Main Campus; 🇺🇸 Denver, Colorado, United States

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital; 🇺🇸 Washington, District of Columbia, United States

University of Miami; 🇺🇸 Miami, Florida, United States

Emory University at Saint Joseph Pulmonary Clinic; 🇺🇸 Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Augusta University; 🇺🇸 Augusta, Georgia, United States

ASHA Clinical Research; 🇺🇸 Hammond, Indiana, United States

University of Iowa; 🇺🇸 Iowa City, Iowa, United States

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