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Nordenmark LH, Hellqvist Å, Emson C, Diver S, Porsbjerg C, Griffiths JM, Newell JD, Peterson S, Pawlikowska B, Parnes JR, Megally A, Colice G, Brightling CE. Tezepelumab and Mucus Plugs in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Asthma. NEJM Evid 2023; 2:EVIDoa2300135. [PMID: 38320181 DOI: 10.1056/evidoa2300135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Tezepelumab and Mucus Plugs in Patients with AsthmaMucus plugs in airways of asthma patients are associated with airway obstruction and the activity of inflammatory cytokines. This article reports prespecified and post hoc analyses of the effect of tezepelumab treatment on mucus plugs identified by computed tomography imaging in patients with moderate-to-severe asthma. At baseline, mucus plug scores correlated positively with levels of inflammatory biomarkers and negatively with lung function measures. Patients treated with tezepelumab had resolution of more mucus plugs than patients taking placebo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars H Nordenmark
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Oslo
| | - Åsa Hellqvist
- Biometrics, Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Claire Emson
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD
| | - Sarah Diver
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Celeste Porsbjerg
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Bispebjerg University Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen
| | - Janet M Griffiths
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD
| | - John D Newell
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City
- VIDA Diagnostics, Coralville, IA
| | | | - Beata Pawlikowska
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Ayman Megally
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD
| | - Gene Colice
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD
| | - Christopher E Brightling
- National Institute for Health and Care Research, Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
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Laidlaw TM, Menzies-Gow A, Caveney S, Han JK, Martin N, Israel E, Lee JK, Llanos JP, Martin N, Megally A, Parikh B, Vong S, Welte T, Corren J. Erratum: Tezepelumab Efficacy in Patients with Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma with Comorbid Nasal Polyps in NAVIGATOR [Corrigendum]. J Asthma Allergy 2023; 16:1053-1054. [PMID: 37791042 PMCID: PMC10543922 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s441410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2147/JAA.S413064.].
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Laidlaw TM, Menzies-Gow A, Caveney S, Han JK, Martin N, Israel E, Lee JK, Llanos JP, Martin N, Megally A, Parikh B, Vong S, Welte T, Corren J. Tezepelumab Efficacy in Patients with Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma with Comorbid Nasal Polyps in NAVIGATOR. J Asthma Allergy 2023; 16:915-932. [PMID: 37692126 PMCID: PMC10488831 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s413064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Tezepelumab, a human monoclonal antibody, blocks thymic stromal lymphopoietin. In the phase 3 NAVIGATOR study (NCT03347279), tezepelumab reduced annualized asthma exacerbation rates (AAERs) versus placebo, irrespective of baseline disease characteristics, and improved lung function and symptom control versus placebo in adults and adolescents with severe, uncontrolled asthma. We assessed the efficacy of tezepelumab in patients with severe asthma with or without nasal polyps (NPs) in the 2 years before randomization in NAVIGATOR. Methods Patients with severe asthma (N=1059) were randomized (1:1) and received tezepelumab 210 mg or placebo every 4 weeks subcutaneously for 52 weeks. Prespecified exploratory analyses included: AAER over 52 weeks and changes from baseline to week 52 in pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-22 scores, and asthma control and health-related quality life (HRQoL) outcomes in NP subgroups. Changes from baseline in fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), blood eosinophil counts, total immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), matrix metalloproteinase-10 (MMP-10), and serum interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-13 were assessed (post hoc). Results Tezepelumab reduced the AAER over 52 weeks versus placebo by 85% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72, 92; n=118) and 51% (95% CI: 40, 60; n=941) in patients with and without NPs, respectively. At week 52, tezepelumab improved lung function, asthma control and HRQoL versus placebo in patients with and without NPs. Tezepelumab reduced SNOT-22 total scores (least-squares mean difference versus placebo [95% CI]) in patients with NPs at 28 weeks (-12.57 points [-19.40, -5.73]) and 52 weeks (-10.58 points [-17.75, -3.41]). At week 52, tezepelumab reduced blood eosinophil counts and FeNO, IgE, IL-5, IL-13, EDN and MMP-10 levels versus placebo, irrespective of NP status. Conclusion Tezepelumab resulted in clinically meaningful improvements in sino-nasal symptoms and asthma outcomes in patients with severe asthma with comorbid NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanya M Laidlaw
- Jeff and Penny Vinik Center for Allergic Diseases Research, Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew Menzies-Gow
- Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Scott Caveney
- Global Development, Inflammation, R&D, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Joseph K Han
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, USA
| | - Nicole Martin
- Biometrics, Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
- Cytel Inc, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Elliot Israel
- Divisions of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jason K Lee
- Evidence Based Medical Educator Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto Allergy and Asthma Clinic, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Neil Martin
- Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals Medical, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Ayman Megally
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Bhavini Parikh
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Sylvia Vong
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Early Respiratory and Immunology, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Tobias Welte
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and German Center for Lung Research, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jonathan Corren
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Diver S, Khalfaoui L, Emson C, Wenzel SE, Menzies-Gow A, Wechsler ME, Johnston J, Molfino N, Parnes JR, Megally A, Colice G, Brightling CE. Effect of tezepelumab on airway inflammatory cells, remodelling, and hyperresponsiveness in patients with moderate-to-severe uncontrolled asthma (CASCADE): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Respir Med 2021; 9:1299-1312. [PMID: 34256031 DOI: 10.1016/s2213-2600(21)00226-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tezepelumab is a human monoclonal antibody that blocks the activity of thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an epithelial cell-derived cytokine. In phase 2b and 3 studies, tezepelumab significantly reduced exacerbations versus placebo in patients with severe uncontrolled asthma, irrespective of baseline levels of type 2 inflammatory biomarkers. We investigated the mechanism of action of tezepelumab by assessing its effects on airway inflammatory cells, airway remodelling, and airway hyperresponsiveness. METHODS CASCADE was an exploratory, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 2 study done in 27 medical centres in Canada, Denmark, Germany, the UK, and the USA. Adults aged 18-75 years with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive tezepelumab 210 mg or placebo administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks for a planned 28 weeks, extended to up to 52 weeks if COVID-19-related disruption delayed participants' end-of-treatment assessments. Randomisation was balanced and stratified by blood eosinophil count. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to the end of treatment in the number of airway submucosal inflammatory cells in bronchoscopic biopsy samples. Eosinophils, neutrophils, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, tryptase+ mast cells, and chymase+ mast cells were evaluated separately. This endpoint was also assessed in subgroups according to baseline type 2 inflammatory biomarker levels, including blood eosinophil count. Airway remodelling was assessed via the secondary endpoints of change from baseline in reticular basement membrane thickness and epithelial integrity (proportions of denuded, damaged, and intact epithelium). Exploratory outcomes included airway hyperresponsiveness to mannitol. All participants who completed at least 20 weeks of study treatment, had an end-of-treatment visit up to 8 weeks after the last dose of study drug, and had evaluable baseline and end-of-treatment bronchoscopies were included in the primary efficacy analysis. All participants who received at least one dose of study drug were included in the safety analyses. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03688074. FINDINGS Between Nov 2, 2018, and Nov 16, 2020, 250 patients were enrolled, 116 of whom were randomly assigned (59 to tezepelumab, 57 to placebo). 48 in the tezepelumab group and 51 in the placebo group completed the study and were assessed for the primary endpoint. Treatment with tezepelumab resulted in a nominally significantly greater reduction from baseline to the end of treatment in airway submucosal eosinophils versus placebo (ratio of geometric least-squares means 0·15 [95% CI 0·05-0·41]; nominal p<0·0010), with the difference seen across all baseline biomarker subgroups. There were no significant differences between treatment groups in the other cell types evaluated (ratio of geometric least-squares means: neutrophils 1·36 [95% CI 0·94-1·97]; CD3+ T cells 1·12 [0·86-1·46]; CD4+ T cells 1·18 [0·90-1·55]; tryptase+ mast cells 0·83 [0·61-1·15]; chymase+ mast cells 1·19 [0·67-2·10]; all p>0·10). In assessment of secondary endpoints, there were no significant differences between treatment groups in reticular basement membrane thickness and epithelial integrity. In an exploratory analysis, the reduction in airway hyperresponsiveness to mannitol was significantly greater with tezepelumab versus placebo (least-squares mean change from baseline in interpolated or extrapolated provoking dose of mannitol required to induce ≥15% reduction in FEV1 from baseline: tezepelumab 197·4 mg [95% CI 107·9 to 286·9]; placebo 58·6 mg [-30·1 to 147·33]; difference 138·8 [14·2 to 263·3], nominal p=0·030). Adverse events were reported in 53 (90%) patients in the tezepelumab group and 51 (90%) patients in the placebo group, and there were no safety findings of concern. INTERPRETATION The improvements in asthma clinical outcomes observed in previous studies with tezepelumab are probably driven, at least in part, by reductions in eosinophilic airway inflammation, as shown here by reduced airway eosinophil counts regardless of baseline blood eosinophil count. Tezepelumab also reduced airway hyperresponsiveness to mannitol, indicating that TSLP blockade might have additional benefits in asthma beyond reducing type 2 airway inflammation. FUNDING AstraZeneca and Amgen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Diver
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Latifa Khalfaoui
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Claire Emson
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Sally E Wenzel
- University of Pittsburgh Asthma Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Michael E Wechsler
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, USA
| | - James Johnston
- Biometrics, Late-stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jane R Parnes
- Translational Medicine, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Ayman Megally
- Late-stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Gene Colice
- Late-stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Christopher E Brightling
- NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre, Department of Respiratory Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK.
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Alpizar S, Megally A, Chen C, Raj A, Downie J, Colice G. Functionality and Performance of an Accessorized Pre-Filled Syringe and an Autoinjector for At-Home Administration of Tezepelumab in Patients with Severe, Uncontrolled Asthma. J Asthma Allergy 2021; 14:381-392. [PMID: 33907423 PMCID: PMC8064619 DOI: 10.2147/jaa.s305114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tezepelumab is an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin monoclonal antibody in development for the treatment of severe asthma. This study assessed the functionality and performance of an accessorized pre-filled syringe (APFS) and an autoinjector (AI) for administration of tezepelumab in the clinic and at home. METHODS This phase 3, multicenter, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study (PATH-HOME, ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03968978) was conducted in patients aged 12-80 years with asthma that was uncontrolled despite treatment with medium- to high-dose inhaled corticosteroids plus at least one additional controller medication. Patients received six subcutaneous doses of tezepelumab 210 mg via APFS or AI. The first dose was administered by a healthcare professional, and patients or caregivers administered subsequent doses. First, second, third and final doses were administered in the clinic; fourth and fifth doses were administered at home. The primary endpoint was the proportion of successful administrations of tezepelumab. Secondary endpoints included the functionality and performance of the devices, Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)-6 score, pharmacokinetics and safety. RESULTS Overall, 216 patients were randomized (APFS, n=111; AI, n=105). Tezepelumab was successfully administered via APFS by 91.7% of the participants (100/109) and via AI by 92.4% (97/105). Overall, 95.4-97.1% of at-home administrations were successful across device groups. Malfunction occurred in 6 of 655 dispensed APFSs and 5 of 624 dispensed AIs. Clinically meaningful improvements in ACQ-6 score were observed after 24 weeks in 81.1% and 76.2% of the patients in the APFS and AI groups, respectively. Tezepelumab pharmacokinetics were consistent between device groups and with previous studies. The most common adverse event was nasopharyngitis (9.3%). Injection-site reactions occurred in 5.7% and 0% of the patients in the AI and APFS groups, respectively. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the APFS and AI were functional and reliable, and performed equally well at home and in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sady Alpizar
- Clinical Research Trials of Florida, Inc., Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Ayman Megally
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Claudia Chen
- Biostatistics, Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Abhi Raj
- Device Development, AstraZeneca, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - John Downie
- Global Development Inflammation, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Gene Colice
- Late-Stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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Zheng Y, Abuqayyas L, Megally A, Fuhr R, Sałapa K, Downie J, Colice G. Tezepelumab Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Tolerability After Administration via Vial-and-syringe, Accessorized Prefilled Syringe, or Autoinjector: A Randomized Trial in Healthy Volunteers. Clin Ther 2020; 43:142-155.e5. [PMID: 33380362 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Tezepelumab is an anti-thymic stromal lymphopoietin monoclonal antibody therapeutic in development for patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma. In ongoing Phase III studies, tezepelumab is administered via subcutaneous (SC) injections using a vial-and-syringe (V-S). This study compared the pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters, safety, and tolerability of tezepelumab administered subcutaneously via V-S versus via an accessorized prefilled syringe (APFS) or autoinjector (AI). METHODS This single-center, randomized, open-label, parallel-group study was conducted in healthy volunteers aged 18-65 years. Participants, stratified according to weight (50 to <70 kg, 70 to <80 kg, or 80-90 kg), were randomized evenly to 9 groups representing injections to the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm via V-S, APFS, or AI. Tezepelumab PK parameters over 113 days were evaluated after a single 210-mg SC dose. The primary end points were comparison of Cmax and AUC0-∞ between device groups. Further PK parameters, immunogenicity, safety (including injection site reactions [ISRs] and injection site pain [visual analog scale]) were also assessed. FINDINGS A total of 315 adults were randomized to treatment. Geometric mean ratios for comparisons between device groups of Cmax, AUC0-∞, and AUC0-last were close to 1, with 90% CIs all within the range of 0.8-1.25, meeting bioequivalence criteria. PK variables were also similar between devices across injection sites and weight categories. Across devices, thigh injection resulted in slightly higher exposure than upper arm injection, and abdomen injection resulted in exposure similar to or slightly lower than thigh injection; however, these differences were not clinically meaningful. Treatment-emergent anti-tezepelumab antibodies were present in 3 (2.9%), 1 (1.0%), and 0 participants in the V-S, APFS, and AI groups, respectively. Treatment-related adverse events were reported in 15.0% of participants overall (V-S, 10.7%; APFS, 18.1%; AI, 16.0%), including ISRs in 1 (1.0%), 3 (2.9%), and 3 (2.8%) participants in the V-S, APFS, and AI groups. Median visual analog scale pain score (0-100 mm scale) was 2 mm immediately after injection and was 0 mm at 30 min for all groups. IMPLICATIONS Tezepelumab PK parameters after a single 210-mg SC dose were comparable when administered via V-S, APFS, or AI. In all groups, immunogenicity rate and injection site pain were low, and ISRs were uncommon. These findings support administration of tezepelumab via APFS or AI, in addition to V-S, providing patients and physicians with greater choice and the potential convenience of at-home use. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03989544.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zheng
- Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, South San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Lubna Abuqayyas
- Clinical Pharmacology Modeling and Simulation, Amgen, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ayman Megally
- Late-stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | - Kinga Sałapa
- Biometrics, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Warsaw, Poland
| | - John Downie
- Global Development Inflammation, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Gene Colice
- Late-stage Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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Emson C, Diver S, Chachi L, Megally A, Small C, Downie J, Parnes JR, Bowen K, Colice G, Brightling CE. CASCADE: a phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial to evaluate the effect of tezepelumab on airway inflammation in patients with uncontrolled asthma. Respir Res 2020; 21:265. [PMID: 33050900 PMCID: PMC7550845 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-020-01513-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with severe, uncontrolled asthma, particularly those with a non-eosinophilic phenotype, have a great unmet need for new treatments that act on a broad range of inflammatory pathways in the airway. Tezepelumab is a human monoclonal antibody that blocks the activity of thymic stromal lymphopoietin, an epithelial cytokine. In the PATHWAY phase 2b study (NCT02054130), tezepelumab reduced exacerbations by up to 71% in adults with severe, uncontrolled asthma, irrespective of baseline eosinophilic inflammatory status. This article reports the design and objectives of the phase 2 CASCADE study. METHODS CASCADE is an ongoing exploratory, phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study aiming to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of tezepelumab 210 mg administered subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 28 weeks in adults aged 18-75 years with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma. The primary endpoint is the change from baseline to week 28 in airway submucosal inflammatory cells (eosinophils, neutrophils, T cells and mast cells) from bronchoscopic biopsies. Epithelial molecular phenotyping, comprising the three-gene-mean technique, will be used to assess participants' type 2 (T2) status to enable evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of tezepelumab across the continuum of T2 activation. Other exploratory analyses include assessments of the impact of tezepelumab on airway remodelling, including reticular basement membrane thickening and airway epithelial integrity. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the protocol was amended to address the possibility that site visits would be limited. The amendment allowed for: at-home dosing of study drug by a healthcare professional, extension of the treatment period by up to 6 months so patients are able to attend an onsite visit to undergo the end-of-treatment bronchoscopy, and replacement of final follow-up visits with a virtual or telephone visit. DISCUSSION CASCADE aims to determine the mechanisms by which tezepelumab improves clinical asthma outcomes by evaluating the effect of tezepelumab on airway inflammatory cells and remodelling in patients with moderate-to-severe, uncontrolled asthma. An important aspect of this study is the evaluation of the anti-inflammatory effect of tezepelumab across patients with differing levels of eosinophilic and T2 inflammation. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT03688074 (ClinicalTrials.gov). Registered 28 September 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Emson
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Research & Early Development, Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| | | | | | - Ayman Megally
- Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Cherrie Small
- Development Operations, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Karin Bowen
- Biometrics, Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Gene Colice
- Respiratory & Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
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