Bacterial Lysate In Preventing Asthma

The BLIPA study aims to investigate the following research questions:

• In children hospitalised with bronchiolitis, does Oral Broncho-Vaxom reduce incidence of parent-reported wheeze during 12 months post IMP initiation after a hospital admission for bronchiolitis.
• Does oral BV reduces the risk of wheeze after bronchiolitis by modulating T cell and Dendritic cells (DC) maturation and altering the gut and airway microbiota. (mechanistic hypothesis)

The BLIPA study will combine the results of two multi-centre, randomised trials with similar but separate protocols: BLIPA-United Kingdom (UK), with recruitment in London, Southampton, Cheshire and Aberdeen and BLIPA-Australia, with recruitment in Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Darwin and Sydney.

BLIPA-UK is funded in the UK by the NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research). BLIPA-Australia is funded in Australia by the International Clinical Trial Collaboration (ICTC). ICTC supports Australian researchers to conduct clinical trial research in collaboration with international researchers.

The total study duration is 74 months. The primary clinical objective is to recruit a population of eligible participants, to randomise them to oral Broncho Vaxom (3.5mg) or placebo, to be taken daily for 10 days a month over 12-24 months, follow up for 12-24 months and compare primary and secondary outcomes between trial arms. Parents or guardians of children, clinicians involved in their care and trial staff will be blinded to the treatment arm. Recruitment will be for 18 months and children's outcomes will be assessed for 24 months following initiation of Investigational Medicinal Product (IMP) or placebo.

Within six weeks of hospital discharge following admission for bronchiolitis, parents or guardians can consent to their child partaking in the study, baseline data is collected, the child is randomised, and the IMP or placebo is initiated (12 months' supply). From the point of treatment initiation, children are followed up for 12-24 months, the same length as the treatment period. There will be at least one scheduled face to face visit at 12 months to dispense a further year's supply of IMP or placebo.

Inclusion criteria

• Parent/Guardian able to provide written informed consent
• Within 6 weeks of discharge from hospital for bronchiolitis
• Child aged ≥2 weeks and ≤12 months at the time of consent to study
• A diagnosis of Bronchiolitis requiring a hospital admission (defined as more than 4 hours in hospital)
• Contactable for regular follow up by the research team

Exclusion criteria

• Any previous hospital attendance for bronchiolitis
• More than one episode of healthcare professional-diagnosed wheeze prior to index bronchiolitis episode
• Premature gestational age less than 37 weeks
• Any severe chronic condition such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease, severe developmental delay, immunodeficiency, or anything that has a significant impact on the respiratory tract (such as need for non-invasive ventilation) or increases vulnerability to respiratory tract infections.
• History of clinically significant neonatal disease (e.g. neonatal pneumonia, congenital lung abnormality, neonatal chronic lung disease)
• Genetic conditions that affect the immune system (e.g. Down's syndrome/Trisomy 21)
• Current regular oral montelukast or inhaled corticosteroid therapy or inhaled salbutamol therapy
• Current regular treatment with immunomodulatory drugs (e.g oral steroids)
• Known allergy or previous intolerance to study medication.
• Currently enrolled to another Randomised Clinical Trial. (Unless prior approval is given by Principal Investigator)
• Sibling of a BLIPA participant (of the same household or family)