scholarly journals SOURCE: a phase 3, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tezepelumab in reducing oral corticosteroid use in adults with oral corticosteroid dependent asthma

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E. Wechsler ◽  
Gene Colice ◽  
Janet M. Griffiths ◽  
Gun Almqvist ◽  
Tor Skärby ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Many patients with severe asthma continue to experience asthma symptoms and exacerbations despite standard-of-care treatment. A substantial proportion of these patients require long-term treatment with oral corticosteroids (OCS), often at high doses, which are associated with considerable multiorgan adverse effects, including metabolic disorders, osteoporosis and adrenal insufficiency. Tezepelumab is a human monoclonal antibody that blocks the activity of the epithelial cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin. In the PATHWAY phase 2b study (NCT02054130), tezepelumab significantly reduced exacerbations by up to 71% in adults with severe, uncontrolled asthma. Several ongoing phase 3 trials (SOURCE, NCT03406078; NAVIGATOR, NCT03347279; DESTINATION, NCT03706079) are assessing the efficacy and safety of tezepelumab in patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. Here, we describe the design and objectives of SOURCE, a phase 3 OCS-sparing study. Methods SOURCE is an ongoing phase 3, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of tezepelumab 210 mg administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks on OCS dose reduction in adults with OCS-dependent asthma. The study comprises a 2-week screening and enrolment period, followed by an OCS optimization phase of up to 8 weeks and a 48-week treatment period, which consists of a 4-week induction phase, followed by a 36-week OCS reduction phase and an 8-week maintenance phase. The primary objective is to assess the effect of tezepelumab compared with placebo in reducing the prescribed OCS maintenance dose. The key secondary objective is to assess the effect of tezepelumab on asthma exacerbation rates. Other secondary objectives include the proportion of patients with a reduction in OCS dose (100% or 50% reduction or those receiving < 5 mg) and the effect of tezepelumab on lung function and patient-reported outcomes. Conclusions SOURCE is evaluating the OCS-sparing potential of tezepelumab in patients with OCS-dependent asthma. SOURCE also aims to demonstrate that treatment with tezepelumab in patients with severe asthma is associated with reductions in exacerbation rates and improvements in lung function, asthma control and health-related quality of life, while reducing OCS dose. Trial registration NCT03406078 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Registered 23 January 2018. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03406078

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie J. Nahas ◽  
Steffen Naegel ◽  
Joshua M. Cohen ◽  
Xiaoping Ning ◽  
Lindsay Janka ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although migraine is less common in older people, preventive treatment of migraine in these individuals may be more challenging due to the presence of multiple comorbidities and polypharmacy. Additionally, evidence for migraine treatment efficacy, safety, and tolerability is limited in this population. We evaluated efficacy, safety, and tolerability of fremanezumab, a fully humanized monoclonal antibody (IgG2Δa) that selectively targets calcitonin gene–related peptide (CGRP), in clinical trial participants aged ≥60 years with episodic migraine (EM) or chronic migraine (CM). Methods This analysis included data from 3 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 studies: the HALO EM study, HALO CM study, and FOCUS study in participants with EM or CM and prior inadequate response to 2–4 migraine preventive medication classes. Participants in all studies were randomized 1:1:1 to receive 12 weeks of subcutaneous treatment with quarterly fremanezumab (Months 1/2/3: EM/CM, 675 mg/placebo/placebo), monthly fremanezumab (Months 1/2/3: EM, 225 mg/225 mg/225 mg; CM, 675 mg/225 mg/225 mg), or matched monthly placebo. Results These pooled analyses included 246 participants aged ≥60 years. Reductions in monthly migraine days from baseline over 12 weeks were significantly greater with fremanezumab (least-squares mean change from baseline [standard error]: quarterly fremanezumab, − 4.3 [0.59]; monthly fremanezumab, − 4.6 [0.54]) versus placebo (placebo, − 2.3 [0.57]; both P < 0.01 vs placebo). As early as Week 1, significant reductions from baseline in weekly migraine days were observed with fremanezumab versus placebo (both P < 0.01). With fremanezumab treatment versus placebo, a significantly higher proportion of participants achieved ≥50% reduction in monthly migraine days, and significant improvements in disability and quality-of-life outcomes were observed (P < 0.05). Proportions of participants experiencing serious adverse events and adverse events leading to discontinuation were low and similar in the fremanezumab and placebo groups. Efficacy and safety results were comparable to the overall pooled population (N = 2843). Conclusions This pooled subgroup analysis demonstrates that fremanezumab treatment is efficacious and well-tolerated over 12 weeks in participants aged ≥60 years with EM or CM. These data may help healthcare providers with clinical decision making and preventive treatment selection for older patients with migraine. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: HALO CM: NCT02621931; HALO EM: NCT02629861; FOCUS: NCT03308968.


2021 ◽  
pp. 204589402110249
Author(s):  
David D Ivy ◽  
Damien Bonnet ◽  
Rolf MF Berger ◽  
Gisela Meyer ◽  
Simin Baygani ◽  
...  

Objective: This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of tadalafil in pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods: This phase-3, international, randomized, multicenter (24 weeks double-blind placebo controlled period; 2-year, open-labelled extension period), add-on (patient’s current endothelin receptor antagonist therapy) study included pediatric patients aged <18 years with PAH. Patients received tadalafil 20 mg or 40 mg based on their weight (Heavy-weight: ≥40 kg; Middle-weight: ≥25—<40 kg) or placebo orally QD for 24 weeks. Primary endpoint was change from baseline in 6-minute walk (6MW) distance in patients aged ≥6 years at Week 24. Sample size was amended from 134 to ≥34 patients, due to serious recruitment challenges. Therefore, statistical significance testing was not performed between treatment groups. Results: Patient demographics and baseline characteristics (N=35; tadalafil=17; placebo=18) were comparable between treatment groups; median age was 14.2 years (6.2 to 17.9 years) and majority (71.4%, n=25) of patients were in HW cohort. Least square mean (SE) changes from baseline in 6MW distance at Week 24 was numerically greater with tadalafil versus placebo (60.48 [20.41] vs 36.60 [20.78] meters; placebo-adjusted mean difference [SD] 23.88 [29.11]). Safety of tadalafil treatment was as expected without any new safety concerns. During study period 1, two patients (1 in each group) discontinued due to investigator’s reported clinical worsening, and no deaths were reported. Conclusions: The statistical significance testing was not performed between the treatment groups due to low sample size, however, the study results show positive trend in improvement in non invasive measurements, commonly utilized by clinicians to evaluate the disease status for children with PAH. Safety of tadalafil treatment was as expected without any new safety signals.


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