The aim of this drug trial is to evaluate the annualized asthma exacerbation rate under treatment with Acarizax versus placebo. The trial is intended for adults aged 18 to 65 with severe uncontrolled asthma and a house dust mite allergy. The study will involve 32 patients (up to 38 with study dropouts) recruited from French hospitals, in pulmonology and allergology departments. Initially, all participants will receive Tezepelumab for 3 to 6 months (M-3/-6) to control asthma symptoms. If asthma is not controlled after 6 months, the participant will be excluded from the study and will continue on standard treatment. Once their asthma is controlled, patients will be randomized in two groups: * Group A: Tezepelumab + Acarizax® * Group B: Tezepelumab + Placebo After 6 months of treatment with Acarizax or placebo (M6), Tezepelumab will be stopped and participants will continue treatment with Acarizax or placebo alone for a further 12 months (up to M18/End of search). The study will include 5 visits during regular consultations (M-3/M-6, D0, M6, M12 and M18), as well as 2 follow-up telephone calls M3 and M9).
The TEZEPAIT study is a prospective, multicentre, 2-parallel-arms, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized (1:1) trial. PHASE 1: Patients will be included in the study after verification of eligibility criteria and signing of informed consent. All patients will be treated with Tezepelumab for 3-6 months and randomized in two groups: * Group A: Tezepelumab + Acarizax® * Group B: Tezepelumab + Placebo If patients are not controlled (ACT ≥ 20/25) after 3 months of Tezepelumab, they will be re-assessed monthly, for 3 consecutive months, until asthma symptoms are controlled or they will be excluded from the rest of the study. If they are not controlled after 6 months, they will be excluded from the study. PHASE 2: After the phase 1, if asthma symptoms are controlled (Asthma Control Test, ACT ≥20/25), patients in Group A will start Acarizax®, in addition to Tezepelumab, while patients in Group B will continue Tezepelumab plus a placebo. Patients will all receive a 6-month treatment of Acarizax® or placebo, before stopping Tezepelumab (M6), to assure an optimal effect of AIT, as shown in Phase 3 trials. Patients will all receive an additional 6 months of Tezepelumab starting at D0 (Start of Acarizax®/placebo), before stopping it. PHASE 3: After stopping Tezepelumab, patients will receive an additional 12-month treatment of Acarizax® or placebo. Patients will receive an 18-month course of Acarizax® or placebo. For safety and ethical reasons, between M6 and M18 (Tezepelumab treatment will be suspended), in case of reappearance of uncontrolled severe asthma, Tezepelumab will be re-prescribed to patients. At the end of the study, patients on placebo, if their asthma is controlled, will be offered Acarizax® treatment (as a regular prescription and paid / reimbursed as proposed by the National French HealthCare system) and patients on Acarizax® treatment and controlled will be able to continue it as routine care.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
38
Patients will take Tezepelumab for 3 to 6 months (M-3/-6) to control asthma symptoms. Once asthma symptoms are controlled (D0), patients will take an additionnal of 18 months of Tezepelumab
Once asthma symptoms are controlled (D0), patients will take 18 months of Acarizax.
Once asthma symptoms are controlled (D0), patients will take 18 months of Placebo.
Annualized total number of asthma exacerbations under acarizax/placebo treatment
The number of asthma exacerbations will be recorded by the participant in their follow-up diary throughout the Acarizax or placebo treatment period. Day 0 marks the start of Acarizax/placebo treatment, and Month 18 marks the end.
Time frame: Between Day 0 and Month 18
Annualized total number of asthma exacerbations without Tezepelumab
The number of asthma exacerbations will be recorded by the participant in their follow-up diary throughout the entire trial. Month 6 marks the end of Tezepelumab treatment, and Month 18 marks the end of Acarizax/placebo treatment.
Time frame: Between Month 6 and Month 18 (during 21 to 24 months)
ACT score
The primary purpose of the Asthma Control Test is to provide a systematic way to evaluate how well a patient's asthma is controlled. The test consists of 5 questions that cover different aspects of asthma control (Frequency of symptoms, limitations on Activities, Nighttime Symptoms, Need for rescue Medication, Self-Assessment). Each question is crafted to elicit information on the patient's experience over the past 4 weeks. The possible scores for each question range from 1 to 5. The total score can range from 5 to 25. A 2-points increase in the score has been proven to be statistically significant.
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12 and Month 18
ARCT score only for patients suffering from allergic rhinitis
This test has been validated for assessing allergic rhinitis control and identifying severe allergic rhinitis. The test consists of 5 questions that cover different aspects of allergic rhinitis (Impact on daily life, Quality of life, Nighttime Symptoms, Need for rescue Medication, Self-Assessment). Each question is crafted to elicit information on the patient's experience over the past 2 weeks. The total score can range from 5 to 25. A 2-points increase in the score has been proven to be statistically significant.
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12 and Month 18
Forced Expiratory Volume (FEV1)
Spirometry result: Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (L).
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
Forced vital capacity (FVC)
Spirometry result: Forced Vital Capacity (L).
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
Modified Tiffeneau-Pinelli index
Spirometry result: FEV₁/FVC ratio (%).
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
Rate of Eosinophils
Rate of Eosinophils in peripheral blood (Cells/µL)
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
Total and Specific IgE levels
Serum levels of total and specific IgE (kU/L)
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
Specific IgG4 levels
Serum levels of Specific IgG4 (kU/L)
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin (EDN) levels
Serum levels of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (ng/mL)
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
Cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-13
Serum levels of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13 (pg/mL)
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 6, Month 12 and Month 18
SGRQ score
The SGRQ is a 50-item questionnaire developed to measure health status (quality of life) in patients with diseases if airways obstruction. It has two parts: * Part I (8 Symptoms items): Several scales * Part II (8 sections on Activity and Impacts): Dichotomous (true/false) except last question (4-point Likert scale) Scores are calculated for 3 domains: Symptoms, Activity and Impacts (Psycho-social) as well as a total score. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more limitations. A minimum change in score of 4 units was established as clinically relevant after patient and clinician testing.
Time frame: Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12 and Month 18
GIRERD questionnaire score
This questionnaire evaluate treatment adherence. The investigator asks 6 yes/no questions, or the patient answers them independently. "Yes" = 1 point, "No" = 0 points. Total score: 0 to 6.
Time frame: Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12 and Month 18
Adverse events attributable to Tezspire® or Acarizax®
All adverse events will be collected to assess their causality in relation to experimental and/or auxiliary treatments.
Time frame: At the start of Tezepelumab treatment (Month -3/-6), Day 0, Month 3, Month 6, Month 9, Month 12 and Month 18
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