Do you suffer from uncontrolled Asthma?
This clinical research study is looking at the safety and effectiveness of a medication for people with severe asthma. Asthma is a condition in which your airways narrow and swell and may produce extra mucus. This can make breathing difficult and trigger coughing, a whistling sound (wheezing) when you breathe out, and shortness of breath.
The aim of the study is to see which regimen is more effective: taking dupilumab with an inhaled asthma medication or only taking a higher dose of the inhaled asthma medication. The type of asthma medication that will be used is a combination inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting beta-agonist (referred to as an ICS/LABA). Some patients may also receive an additional asthma medication called a long-acting muscarinic antagonist (referred to as a LAMA) if they are already receiving a LAMA.
Would you like to contribute to medical research?
As a volunteer in a research study, you’ll receive study-related medical care from the study doctor and regular follow-up of your asthma to monitor the effectiveness of the care you’ll receive. The results of this research will be used to find out if the investigational medication being studied will be of benefit to others with asthma, and whether it will be made widely available to all Canadians with asthma. Study volunteers are an important part of moving medical care forward.
You may qualify to participate in this study if you:
- Have been diagnosed with asthma for ≥12 months, based on the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) 2023 guidance document
- Have received treatment with medium dose ICS/LABA (>250 to 500 μg/day of fluticasone propionate DPI or equivalent, per GINA 2023 guidance document) for at least 3 months with a stable dose ≥1 month prior to visit 1
- Require a maximum of 3 controllers for your asthma, you will be considered eligible for this study
- Have pre-bronchodilator FEV1, as defined in the protocol
- Have reversibility of at least 12% and 200 mL in FEV1 after the administration of 200 to 400 μg albuterol/salbutamol at screening OR a documented history of ≥20% reduction in the FEV1, as defined in the protocol
- Have demonstrated adherence to medium dose ICS/LABA on at least 80% of days during the run-in period
- Have ACQ-5 score ≥1.5 at screening (visit 1)
- Have a history of ≥1 severe exacerbation(s) in the previous year before visit 1, but not in the 30 days immediately preceding visit 1
- Meet biomarker criteria: Baseline blood eosinophil count ≥300 cells/μL at visit 1 (~90% of population), as defined in the protocol
You may not qualify to participate if you:
- Have a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other lung diseases which may impair lung function and interfere with treatment assessments
- Have clinical evidence of lung disease(s) other than asthma or imaging (Chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) with significant findings within 12 months of visit 1 and up to and including the baseline visit (visit 3)
- Experience a severe asthma exacerbation at any time from 1 month prior to the screening visit (visit 1) up to and including the baseline visit (visit 3), as defined in the protocol
- Weigh less than 30 kilograms
- Are a current smoker or cessation of smoking within 6 months prior to visit 1 or previous smoker with a smoking history ≥10 pack-years
- Have any severe concomitant illness(es) that, in the Investigator’s judgment, would adversely affect the participant’s participation in the study, as defined in the protocol
- Cannot be on systemic corticosteroids at any time from 1 month prior to the screening visit (visit 1) through the duration of the run-in period
There are other eligibility requirements that the study doctor will review. Only the study doctor can finally determine whether you are eligible to participate in the study or not.