Effects of Tregalizumab on Allergen-induced Airway Responses and Airway Inflammation in Asthmatic Patients

This study will consist of a screening phase, a treatment phase and a follow-up phase.

Eligible subjects will undergo a bronchial allergen provocation (BAP) with mite allergen to assess the asthmatic response before and after treatment. Subjects will be randomized to two parallel treatment groups. Each subject will be treated weekly over 12 weeks either with test product or with the reference product (placebo).

Inclusion criteria

• Willing and able to give written informed consent.
• Male or female subject aged 18 to 65 years (both inclusive).
• Established diagnosis of mild controlled allergic asthma (GINA 2019) and history of allergic bronchial asthma for at least 1 year.
• BMI of 18.0 to 30.0 (both inclusive).
• Non-smoker (all substances).
• Specific IgE to HDM (Dermatophagoides farinae) ≥ class 2 in radioallergosorbent test (RAST).
• BHR (i.e., a decrease in FEV1 of at least 20%) measured by methacholine challenge.
• FEV1 ≥ 75% of predicted value (according to height, weight and sex).
• Subject must demonstrate a significant EAR and LAR without rescue medication use within the first 7 hours after BAP.
• No clinically relevant abnormalities in 12-lead ECG at screening.

Exclusion criteria

• Severe, unstable bronchial asthma.
• Exacerbation of asthma ≤ 4 weeks prior to screening.
• Treatment with parenteral and oral corticosteroids 6 weeks prior to screening and during the study.
• Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, methylxanthines (e.g., theophyllin), anticholinergics (e.g., ipratropium bromide), leukotriene modifiers (e.g., montelukast), tiotropium bromide, cromolyn or nedocromil within 2 weeks prior to screening and during the study.
• Current treatment with any immunosuppressants (e.g., monoclonal antibodies, methotrexate, cyclosporin).
• Specific immunotherapy (SCIT) to mite within 3 years prior to screening.
• Serious adverse drug reaction to previous biological treatment.
• Previous therapy with a mAb targeting CD4, including tregalizumab.
• Known hypersensitivity to any constituents of tregalizumab and/or other mAbs, that, in the opinion of the investigator or Medical Monitor, contraindicates participation.
• Previous inclusion in this study.
• Serum transaminases, ALAT and/or ASAT > 2.5-fold ULN at screening.
• Bilirubin > 34.2 µmol/L at screening.
• AP > 2-fold ULN at screening.
• Urea nitrogen > 1.5-fold ULN at screening.
• Kidney insufficiency as defined by creatinine level > 133 µmol/L at screening.
• History of severe allergic or anaphylactic reaction to proteins of human origin (e.g. vaccination reaction, biological therapy).
• Presence or history of malignancy within the previous 5 years (except completely resected squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin).
• Presence or history of clinically significant major disease (e.g., severe heart/lung disease New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class ≥ 3, autoimmune disease [apart from rheumatoid arthritis], acute uncontrolled hyper- or hypo-thyroidism, severe uncontrolled hypo or hypertension).
• Serious local (e.g., abscess) or systemic (e.g., pneumonia, septicemia) infection or recurrent chronic infections within 6 weeks prior to screening visit or during the screening period.
• Any infection requiring antibiotic therapy by any route of administration within 4 weeks prior to screening.
• Vaccination with live, live attenuated, and/or killed vaccines in the 12 weeks prior to the first administration of the study drug and during the study.
• Positive diagnosis for acute or chronic infections (e.g. HCV, HBV, HIV) at screening or history of previous chronic infection.
• Acute or clinically symptomatic EBV (infectious mononucleosis) or CMV infection.
• Presence or history of latent or active tuberculosis.
• Known immune deficiency.
• Presence or history of lymphoproliferative disease, including lymphoma and lymphadenopathy.
• Presence or history of clinically significant drug or alcohol abuse.
• Employee at study site or any institution involved in this study (including the sponsor), or spouse/partner or relative of an investigator.
• Pregnant or nursing woman or woman considering to become pregnant during the study or in the 3 months after the last administration of study drug.
• Woman of childbearing potential (unless surgically sterile or post-menopausal > 52 weeks) who is not using two (2) independent effective contraceptive methods (e.g., oral or injectable contraceptives, intra-uterine devices, double barrier method, contraceptive patch or female sterilization) during the study and for at least 3 months after the last administration of study drug OR Non-vasectomized man who, during the study or in the 3 months after the last administration of study drug, is not using two (2) independent effective contraceptive methods (as specified above) or is planning a sperm donation.
• Donation of blood within 30 days prior to screening until end of study.
• Participation in another clinical trial within 90 days before screening or during the study.
• Inability or lacking motivation to adhere to the study requirements and to comply with the study schedule.
• Imprisonment or placement in an institution (AMG § 40 (1), sentence 4).