A Study Assessing the Effect of Dupilumab on Inducing Clinical Remission in Asthma
This study is investigating if an asthma medication called dupilumab can help people with moderate asthma gain complete control, known as "remission," earlier in their disease. Currently, advanced treatments are often given only after asthma becomes severe. This research wants to see if treating people at higher risk sooner could stop asthma attacks and lung damage from developing. It's for adults aged 18-79 with moderate asthma who have had a severe attack needing steroid pills in the last two years, use regular inhaled steroids, and show signs of inflammation. Participants will receive either dupilumab or a dummy injection every two weeks for a year, alongside their usual asthma medicine. The goal is to find out if early treatment with dupilumab leads to better asthma control compared to standard care.
At a glance
What is this study about?
Imagine you have asthma, and your doctor prescribes medication to help you breathe easier. This study is looking at a specific medicine called dupilumab, and whether it can help people with asthma achieve full control much earlier. Think of 'full control' like putting your asthma into a quiet state, where you don't have many symptoms or troublesome flare-ups.
Currently, many strong asthma treatments, like dupilumab, are usually only given when someone's asthma has become quite severe, often after they've had several bad attacks or their lungs have started to show damage. This research asks: what if we could use these treatments earlier, for people who are at risk of their asthma getting worse, but haven't reached that severe stage yet? The hope is that by intervening sooner, we could prevent those severe attacks and stop further damage to the lungs, helping more people get their asthma truly under control.
This is important because it could change how doctors think about treating asthma. Instead of waiting for asthma to become serious, we might be able to prevent much of the trouble before it starts. This study is a step towards understanding if early treatment with medicines like dupilumab can make a big difference for people with asthma in countries like the UK, Canada, and Australia.
Key takeaways
- Aims to see if early treatment with dupilumab can help people with moderate asthma achieve full control.
- Could prevent asthma from becoming severe and causing lung damage.
- Participants will receive injections of either dupilumab or a placebo every two weeks for one year.
- Regular clinic visits will involve breathing tests and health checks.
- This study could change how doctors manage asthma by focusing on prevention.
- It's for adults with moderate asthma who are at risk of it worsening, but not yet classed as severe.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for adults aged between 18 and 79 years old who have a clear diagnosis of asthma that has been confirmed by a doctor for at least six months. You should have had at least one serious asthma attack in the last two years that needed steroid tablets, or resulted in a trip to A&E or a hospital stay.
You also need to be regularly using at least a medium dose of inhaled steroid medication for the past three months. The study is specifically interested in people who show signs of inflammation in their body, which will be checked through blood tests and breath tests during the screening process.
Crucially, you should not currently be receiving other advanced asthma treatments, often called 'biologics', for severe asthma. This study is designed for people with moderate asthma who are at risk of it getting worse, rather than those whose asthma is already considered severe enough for current advanced therapies.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you between 18 and 79 years old?
- Has a doctor confirmed your asthma for at least 6 months?
- Have you had at least one asthma attack needing steroid tablets or an emergency visit in the last 2 years?
- Do you use a medium or high dose of inhaled steroid regularly?
- Are you NOT currently receiving other advanced asthma treatments (biologics)?
- Are you willing to have blood and breath tests to check for inflamed airways?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part, you would receive either the study medication (dupilumab) or a dummy injection (placebo) every two weeks for a year. These injections are usually given under the skin, similar to a flu jab. You would continue to take your regular asthma medicines as prescribed by your doctor.
You would need to attend clinic visits every three months. During these visits, the research team would do various checks, including breathing tests, asking you to complete questionnaires about your asthma, and monitoring your general health and any side effects to make sure you're safe. Neither you nor your doctor will know whether you are receiving the active medication or the dummy injection until the study officially finishes. The study plans to involve about 150 participants in total.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (5)
- Sir Charles Gairdner HospitalVerified postcodeNedlands, Australia· Not yet recruiting
- McGill University Health CentreVerified postcodeMontreal, Canada· Not yet recruiting
- Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de QuébecVerified postcodeQuébec, Canada· Not yet recruiting
- CIUSSS de l'Estrie- CHUSVerified postcodeSherbrooke, Canada· Recruiting
- Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - John Radcliffe HospitalVerified postcodeOxford, United Kingdom· Not yet recruiting
Common questions
What is 'remission' in asthma?
Asthma 'remission' means your asthma is very well controlled, with few to no symptoms, no flare-ups, and good lung function, almost as if your asthma has gone into a quiet state.
What is dupilumab?
Dupilumab is a type of medicine called a biologic, which targets specific inflammation pathways in your body that can make asthma worse.
Why test dupilumab earlier?
The study wants to see if using dupilumab earlier in moderate asthma can prevent serious asthma attacks and long-term lung damage, rather than waiting until asthma becomes severe.
Are there any injections?
Yes, participants will receive either dupilumab or a dummy injection every two weeks, given under the skin, for one year.
Will I know if I'm getting the real medicine?
No, both you and your doctor will not know whether you're receiving dupilumab or the dummy injection until the study is completed. This is standard practice in clinical trials.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
Discussion
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