The Goal of this study is to investigate if individuals ages 12 years and older, carrying the IL-4RαR576 gene variant, will have a greater response to therapy acting directly on the anti-IL-4R. This will be conducted by examining the effect of a 48 week therapy with dupilumab on the rate of asthma exacerbations.
This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parallel-group phase 4 clinical trial. Patients will be genotyped and categorized as those with: 1) the wild type allele (Q576/Q576), 2) heterozygous allele (Q576/R576), or 3) homozygous mutant allele (R576/R576); the genotype associated with more severe disease. After a run-in period of 2-12 weeks to determine asthma control, subjects who fulfill all inclusion/exclusion criteria will be randomized to receive either subcutaneous Dupilumab or placebo (1:1 randomization allocation ratio). This study addresses fundamental mechanisms by which the IL-4Rα-R576 variant drives the TH2/TH17 disease endotype and the influence of this variant on response to Dupilumab therapy. It brings together individuals with deep clinical and scientific expertise in allergic diseases, including epidemiology, genetics, inflammation, and tolerance mechanisms to investigate, in a coordinated strategy, the hypothesis that the IL-4Rα-R576 variant drives TH2/TH17 cell inflammation by subverting allergen-specific iTreg cells into TH17 cells. Asthmatics bearing this endotype will be particularly likely to favorably respond to Dupilumab therapy by virtue of its prevention of iTreg cell reprogramming into TH17-like cells, potentially leading to their long-term stability and potential for sustained immune tolerance.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
150
Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Henry Ford Health System
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Montefiore Einstein Clinical Research Center
The Bronx, New York, United States
The rate of asthma exacerbations
An exacerbation is an asthma attack for which a clinician prescribed a course of systemic steroids, whether or not the patient took the steroids.
Time frame: 48 week treatment period
Change in pre-bronchodilator lung function
the change in pre-bronchodilator FEV1% predicted from baseline
Time frame: average of week 4,12, 24,36 and 48 week
Change in CASI score
The change in CASI score from baseline
Time frame: average of 4,12, 24, 36, and 48 week
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MetroHealth System
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States