Comparison of Flutiform, Fluticasone and Seretide in Treatment of Moderate to Severe Asthma in Paediatric Patients

This is a study involving a 2-4 week run-in phase followed by a 12 week double blind treatment phase. During the run-in phase, all subjects receive Flixotide. In the treatment phase subjects will be randomised to one of the 3 treatment groups and will receive active Flutiform and placebo Flixotide or Active Seretide and placebo Flixotide or active Flixotide and either placebo seretide or placebo Flutiform. Efficacy will be assessed by lung function tests, asthma symptoms, sleep disturbance due to asthma and rescue medication use. Safety will be assessed by adverse events, lab tests, urinary cortisol and vital signs.

Inclusion criteria

• Male and Female subjects 5 to <12 years old.
• Known history of moderate to severe persistent reversible asthma1 for ≥ 6 months prior to the screening visit.
• Demonstrated FEV1 of ≥ 60% to ≤ 90% for predicted normal values (Polgar 1971) during the screening period following appropriate withholding of asthma medications (if applicable):

• No LABA use within 12 hours and/or no SABA use within 6 hours of the PFT
• No use of inhaled ICS-LABA asthma therapy within 12 hours of the PFT
• Inhaled corticosteroids are allowed on the day of screening
• Documented reversibility of ≥ 15% in FEV1 in the screening period
• Current use of an inhaled corticosteroid for asthma at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to the screening visit
• Inadequate asthma control on an ICS alone at a dose of ≤ 500 µg fluticasone equivalents/day, OR controlled asthma on an ICS-LABA combination at a ICS dose of ≤ 200 µg fluticasone equivalents/day
• Demonstrated satisfactory technique in the use of the pMDI and spacer device
• Can perform spirometry adequately
• Willing and able to enter information in the electronic diary with the help of a parent or guardian, if necessary and attend all study visits
• Willing and able to substitute pre-study prescribed inhaled asthma medication for the entire duration of the study
• If a female subject is post menarche a urine pregnancy test may be undertaken at the discretion of the investigator and the subjects' parent(s) /legal representative. This test must be negative.
• Written informed consent and assent obtained as per national law

Exclusion criteria

• Near fatal or life-threatening (including intubation) asthma within the past year
• Hospitalisation or an emergency visit for asthma within the past 6 months
• History of systemic (injectable or oral) corticosteroid medication within 1 month of the screening visit
• Current or prior non-response or partial response only to an ICS-LABA combination1
• Evidence of a clinically unstable disease, as determined by medical history, clinical laboratory tests, and physical examination that, in the Investigator's opinion, preclude entry into the study. "Clinically significant" is defined as any disease that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would put the subject at risk through study participation, or which would affect the outcome of the study
• In the Investigator's opinion a clinically significant upper or lower respiratory infection within 4 weeks prior to the screening visit
• Significant, non-reversible active pulmonary disease (e.g. cystic fibrosis, bronchiecstasis, tuberculosis)
• Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive status
• Current smoking history within 12 months prior to the screening visit
• Current evidence of alcohol or substance abuse within 12 months prior to the screening visit
• Subjects who have taken β- blocking agents, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, astemizole (Hismanal), quinidine type antiarrythmics, or potent CYP 3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole within 1 week prior to the screening visit
• Current use of medications, other than those allowed in the protocol, that in the investigator's opinion will have an effect on bronchospasm and/or pulmonary function
• Current evidence of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reaction to test medications or components
• Receipt of an Investigational medicinal product within 30 days of the screening visit
• Current participation in a clinical study