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Dupilumab on Airway Hyper-responsiveness and Ventilation Heterogeneity in Patients With Asthma.

Phase 3
Completed
Conditions
Asthma
Interventions
Biological: Placebo
Biological: Dupilumab/Dupixent
Registration Number
NCT03884842
Lead Sponsor
McMaster University
Brief Summary

In asthmatics with airway hyperresponsiveness and a "T2 immune signature" (type 2), Dupilumab will suppress airway hyperresponsiveness (assessed by methacholine PC20 ≤ 4 mg/mL (PC20: provocative concentration causing a 20% fall in FEV1) OR ≥15% decreased in forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) during saline inhalation for sputum induction OR ≥25% improvement in FEV1 after bronchodilator) and airway eosinophilia (assessed by sputum eosinophils) and this will be associated with greater asthma control and improved ventilation heterogeneity.

Detailed Description

Along with these features of eosinophil recruitment, degranulation and autoantibody generation, that are partly dependent on (interleukin-4) IL-4 and (interleukin-13) IL-13 signalling, two additional characteristic features of asthma ie airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus hypersecretion are also determined by IL-13 biology. Neither of these important features have been investigated in any clinical trials of anti-IL-13 molecules. Accurate endotyping to identify patients in whom IL-13 mediated biology is the dominant pathobiology of asthma (selecting patients with significant airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus secretion) may elicit greater clinical effect. Taken together, we propose to investigate the effects of Dupilumab on airway hyperresponsiveness, on airway eosinophilia and mucus biology and their relation to airway structure and function (ventilation heterogeneity), and airway autoimmune responses.

To satisfy the proposed objective we will evaluate well-established outcome measures of airway hyperresponsiveness (provocation concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV1 (PC20), type 2 inflammation (sputum eosinophils, blood eosinophils and exhaled nitric oxide (eNO)) and mucus biology.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
24
Inclusion Criteria
  • General

    1. Able and willing to provide written informed consent.

    2. Able and willing to comply with the study protocol.

    3. Males and females ≥ 18 years of age.

      Asthma-related

    4. Asthma diagnosed by a respiratory physician ≥ 12 months prior to study enrolment based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2014 guidelines.

    5. ACQ > 1 during the screening period.

    6. Airway hyperresponsiveness (methacholine PC20 ≤ 4 mg/mL OR ≥15% decreased in FEV1 during saline inhalation for sputum induction OR ≥25% improvement in FEV1 after bronchodilator) during the screening period.

    7. Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) >25 ppb and either ≥3% sputum eosinophils (preferred) OR blood eos ≥300/µL during the screening period.

    8. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) dose ≥500 mcg of fluticasone equivalent/day. Patients on prednisone would not be excluded as long as they meet the rest of the inclusion criteria.

Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from study entry:

Prior Medical Conditions and Treatment History

  1. Acute or chronic parasitic, bacterial, fungal or viral infections that required, or currently requires, hospitalization or antimicrobial treatment during the last four weeks.

  2. Acute asthma exacerbation event treated with increased doses of oral, or any dose of intramuscular (IM) or intravenous (IV) corticosteroids within six weeks prior to screening.

  3. Other relevant pulmonary diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, pulmonary arterial hypertension, tuberculosis) requiring treatment within 12 months prior to screening.

  4. Alcohol or substance abuse within 12 months prior to screening.

  5. Current smoker defined as having smoked at least one cigarette (or pipe, cigar, or marijuana) per day for ≥ 30 days within the three months prior to screening.

  6. Ex-smokers with ≥ 10 pack-year smoking history.

  7. Treatment with anti-IgE (immunoglobulin E), anti-IL-4, anti-IL-5 (interleukin-5), or anti-IL-13 targeted therapy currently or within three months prior to screening.

  8. ACQ > 3.0

    MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging )Related

  9. Patient has an implanted mechanically, electrically or magnetically activated device or any metal in their body which cannot be removed, including but not limited to pacemakers, neurostimulators, biostimulators, implanted insulin pumps, aneurysm clips, bioprosthesis, artificial limb, metallic fragment or foreign body, shunt, surgical staples (including clips or metallic sutures and/or ear implants) (at the discretion of the MRI Technologist).

  10. In the investigator's opinion, subject suffers from any physical, psychological or other condition(s) that might prevent performance of the MRI, such as severe claustrophobia.

    General

  11. Participation in any clinical trial of an investigational agent or procedure within six months prior to screening or during the study.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
matched placeboPlaceboSterile placebo for dupilumab will be provided in identically matched glass prefilled syringes to deliver 2 mL.
dupilumabDupilumab/DupixentDupilumab 300 mg subcutaneously (SC) every 2 weeks as an investigational drug. For those randomized to dupilumab, a loading dose of 600 mg will be given only at randomization/Visit 2. Sterile dupilumab of will be provided in 150 mg/mL in glass prefilled syringes (2.25 mL total volume) to deliver 300 mg in 2 mL.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of patients that achieve at least one doubling dose improvement in PC20 methacholine and/or a 50% reduction in FEV1 reversibility after bronchodilator.Between screening (week -4) and week 16.

For patients that can undergo a methacholine challenge, one doubling dose improvement in PC20 methacholine. For those that cannot undergo a methacholine challenge a 50% reduction in FEV1 reversibility.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in FEV1 (pre-bronchodilator)Between randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in pre-bronchodilator FEV1 values (in litres) between randomization and end of treatment.

Change in geometric mean PC20 methacholine.Between screening (week -4) and week 16.

Change in PC20 between screening and week 16.

Change in FEV1 reversibility.Between randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in FEV1 % reversibility (pre/post bronchodilator) between randomization and end of treatment.

Change in sputum eosinophil percentage (%)Between randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in sputum eosinophil percentage between randomization and end of treatment

Change in blood eosinophil countBetween randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in blood eosinophil count levels between randomization and end of treatment

Change in Asthma Control Questionnaire-5 (ACQ-5)Between randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in ACQ scores between randomization and end of treatment.

Change in Asthma Control Questionnaire-5 (AQLQ)Between randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in AQLQ scores between randomization and end of treatment.

Change in Asthma Control Test (ACT)Between randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in ACT scores between randomization and end of treatment.

Change in fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO)Between randomization (week 0) and week 16.

Change in FeNO values parts per billion (ppb) from randomization and end of treatment.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Firestone Institute for Respiratory Health, St. Joseph's Healthcare

🇨🇦

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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