Protocol Number: 08-H-0047

Title:

A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Pilot Study of Pioglitazone Hydrochloride in Allergic Asthma

Number:

08-H-0047

Summary:

This study will test whether pioglitazone hydrochloride (Actos ® (Registered Trademark) Registered Trademark) is effective for treating patients with asthma who do not respond to standard therapy. Experiments have shown that this drug, which is used to treat patients with diabetes, may be effective for treating asthma.

People between 18 and 75 years of age who have had asthma for at least a1 year and whose symptoms are not well controlled with high doses of inhaled corticosteroids with or without long-acting bronchodilators may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with breathing tests, an allergy skin test, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram (ultrasound test of the heart), blood tests, and DEXA scan (an x-ray to measure bone thickness) to make sure they are eligible for the study.

Then, participants undergo tests and procedures in the following study phases:

Phase 1

Participants are given a device to measure and record their lung function and asthma symptoms at home each morning and night for 4 weeks before starting the study medication. Lung function is also measured at clinic visits before and after inhaling a bronchodilator medicine. Before starting the study medication, participants have a sputum induction (sputum collection test). For this test, the participants inhale a salt-water mist and are asked to collect sputum into a plastic cup.

Phase II

Participants are randomly selected to receive either pioglitazone hydrochloride or placebo (a look-alike pill with no active ingredient) once a day for 10 weeks. They return to the clinic after 2 weeks to repeat the tests done in Phase 1 and to monitor any reactions to the study drug or placebo. If there are no problems, the amount of medication is increased once, and then they return for follow-up evaluations every 2 weeks for 8 weeks. Pulmonary function tests, sputum collection and DEXA scan are repeated after 10 weeks on medication.

Phase III

Patients return for follow-up 1 month after stopping the medication or placebo to monitor their asthma.

Sponsoring Institute:

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients will be between 18 and 75 years of age, male or female, with a diagnosis of asthma for at least one year.

Patients must have reversible airflow obstruction as defined by a positive methacholine bronchoprovocation challenge or a positive response to inhaled bronchodilators.

Patients must be treated with EPR-3 Step 5 therapy (high dose (great than or equal to 440 ucg/day) fluticasone inhaler or equivalent dose of another inhaled corticosteroid) with or without an inhaled long-acting beta-2-agonist) for at least 3 months.

Patients must meet the EPR-3 criteria for not well controlled asthma. The EPR-3 definition for not well controlled asthma includes any of the following features in a week (unless otherwise indicated): daytime asthma symptoms great than 2 days/week, limitation of activities, nocturnal symptoms or awakening greater than 2 times/month, need for reliever/rescue treatment greater than 2 days/week, PEF or FEV(1) less than 80% predicted.

Pre-bronchodilator FEV(1) greater than or equal to 55% of predicted and post-bronchodilator FEV(1) greater than or equal to 60% of predicted.

During the 6 weeks prior to enrollment, patients should have stable asthma as defined by the absence of unscheduled health care visits for asthma care and unchanged use of asthma maintenance therapy. Additional criteria for disease stability include the absence of hospitalization for asthma or the need for a course of oral corticosteroids during the preceding 3 months.

Research subjects must have a positive skin test to a common aeroallergen, such as dust mite, cat, short ragweed, cockroach, or grass or a prior history of severe allergy or anaphylaxis.

Chest radiograph without evidence of pulmonary disease, other than asthma.

Left ventricular ejection fraction greater than or equal to 50% by echocardiogram.

For women of childbearing potential, negative pregnancy test within 2 weeks prior to study and willingness to adhere to reliable birth control methods during the study.

Subjects with a history of dermatologic cancers may be included if they have been cancer-free for at least 5 years prior to enrollment.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

A known history of hypersensitivity to pioglitazone.

Maintenance asthma therapy with oral corticosteroids, xolair (anti-IgE), methotrexate, cytoxan, gold salts, or cyclosporine.

Cigarette smoking within the past 3 months or a prior history of greater than 10 cumulative pack-years.

Viral or bacterial upper respiratory tract infection within 6 weeks prior to the screening visit.

Investigational therapy for any indication within 1 month prior to the screening visit.

History of lung disease other than asthma (i.e., COPD, sarcoidosis).

History of diabetes mellitus, insulin secreting tumor, or symptomatic hypoglycemia.

HIV or other known immunodeficiency.

History of congestive heart failure.

Preexisting edema (2 plus or greater).

Hemoglobin less than 12 gm/dl for males and less than 11 gm/dl for females.

History of liver disease or abnormal liver function tests greater than 2 times upper limit of normal.

History of inflammatory bowel disease.

History of cancer (other than dermatologic cancer).

History of drug or alcohol abuse.

Use of the following medications, which can interact with pioglitazone:

Gemfibrizol (Lopid)

Atazanivir (Reyataz)

Ritonavir (Norvir)

Rifampin (Rifampicin)

Carbamzepine (Tegretol)

Phenobarbital (Luminal)

Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Rifapentine (Priftin)

Secobarbital (Seconal)

Amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone)

Palitaxel (Taxol)

Replaglinide (Prandine)

Ketoconazole (Nizoral)

Atorvastatin (Lipitor® (Registered Trademark))

Nifedipine ER (Adalat CC)

Any condition that, in the investigator's opinion, places the patient at undue risk for complications from pioglitazone therapy.

Dexa bone scan (T score below -1 SD).

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Pioglitazone

Asthma

Peroxisome Proliferator-Advanced Receptor Gamma

Airflow Obstruction

Airway Inflammation

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Asthma

Condition(s):

Asthma

Airway Inflammation

Airflow Obstruction

Airway Hyperactivity

Investigational Drug(s):

Pioglitazone Hydrochloride

Investigational Device(s):

None

Intervention(s):

Drug: Pioglitazone Hydrochloride

Supporting Site:

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Contact(s):

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):

Wenzel SE. Asthma: defining of the persistent adult phenotypes. Lancet. 2006 Aug 26;368(9537):804-13.

Rhen T, Cidlowski JA. Antiinflammatory action of glucocorticoids--new mechanisms for old drugs. N Engl J Med. 2005 Oct 20;353(16):1711-23.

Strunk RC, Bloomberg GR. Omalizumab for asthma. N Engl J Med. 2006 Jun 22;354(25):2689-95.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department of Clinical Research Informatics, CC.

Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
Clinical Center Home | NIH Home

National Institutes of Health Clinical Center Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 05/05/2009