To Assess the Pharmacokinetics, Safety and Tolerability of Abediterol Administered Once Daily for 9 Days, in Patients With Asthma on Inhaled Corticosteroids

This is a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess PK and safety of abediterol 5 μg DPI given QD for 9 days, compared to placebo, in patients with asthma on ICSs. It is planned that 12 patients with asthma will be randomized into the study, of which 9 will receive abediterol 5 μg and 3 will receive placebo. The entire study period is scheduled to take a maximum of 41 days (follow-up included) for each individual patient. During the screening period, all patients will take their own baseline inhaled corticosteroids. Patients on long-acting β2-agonist/inhaled corticosteroids will be switched over to the respective inhaled corticosteroid mono-component at Visit 1. Patients will be provided salbutamol as rescue medication for use throughout the study. Each patient will receive a single inhaled dose of abediterol or placebo in the morning of Days 1 to 9 (Visits 3 to 8) under supervision of the Investigator or designee.

Inclusion criteria

• Provision of signed and dated, written informed consent prior to any study specific procedures.
• Male and non-pregnant, non-lactating female patients aged 18 - 55 years with asthma and with suitable veins for cannulation or repeated venipuncture.
• Non-smoker or former smoker who quit ≥ 6 months prior to Visit 1 and have a total smoking history of ≤ 10 pack-years. Note: Pack-years are calculated by dividing the number of cigarettes smoked per day by 20 (the number of cigarettes in a pack) and multiplying this figure by the number of years a person has been smoking. For example, a person who smokes 40 cigarettes a day and has been smoking for 10 years would have a 20 pack-year smoking history (40 cigarettes per day ÷ 20 cigarettes per pack = 2; 2 × 10 years of smoking = 20 pack-year history).
• Patient with documented clinical diagnosis of asthma for ≥ 6 months before Visit 1 according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines.
• Patient with blood pressure (defined as systolic blood pressure [SBP] ≥ 90 and ≤ 140 mmHg, and diastolic blood pressure [DBP] ≥ 50 and ≤ 90 mmHg) at Screening, measured after resting in the supine position for 5 minutes.
• Patient with no relevant clinical laboratory findings at Screening (Visits 1 or 2) as judged by the Investigator.
• Patient on stable dose of ICSs for at least 1 month prior to Visit 1. Patients on bronchodilators will need to do appropriate wash-out prior to the pulmonary function test at Visit 2.
• Patient with pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at Visit 2 ≥ 40% and ≤ 90% of predicted (mean of 2 pre-bronchodilator measurements taken 30 minutes apart).
• Patient who demonstrates the ability to use the study inhalation device properly.

Patient able to perform acceptable pulmonary function testing for FEV1 according to American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) acceptability criteria.

• Negative pregnancy test (serum pregnancy test at Screening) for female patients.

• Female patients must be post-menopausal, surgically sterile, or must be able to adhere to the conditions of contraceptive requirements. Male patients must be surgically sterile or must be able to adhere to the conditions of contraceptive requirements.
• Patients willing not to donate blood during the study and for 3 months following their last dose of IMP.
• Patient willing and able to follow study directions and restrictions.
• Patient must be able to read, speak and understand German language.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient has known or suspected hypersensitivity to the IMP or excipients, including lactose (Note: lactose intolerance is not an exclusion criterion).
• Patient who has used systemic steroid in the 6 weeks before Visit 1.
• Patient with a history of hospitalization due to asthma in the 6 months prior to Visit 1 or a history of intubation because of asthma at any time in their lifetime.
• Patient with any active pulmonary disease other than asthma.
• Patient non-compliant with study procedures in the Screening period (prior to randomization) -as judged by the Investigator.
• Patient under treatment with biologicals such as monoclonal antibodies or chimeric biomolecules including omalizumab, mepolizumab, and reslizumab within 6 months or 5 half-lives before Visit 1, whichever is longer.
• Patient treated with any investigational drug within 30 days (or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer) prior to Visit 1.
• Patient on treatment with strong cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole or itraconazole or CYP3A4 inducers such as rifampin at Visit 1 or within 14 days prior to administration of IMP.
• Patient with a history, laboratory abnormality, or clinical suspicion of any clinically relevant disease or disorder, including uncontrolled hypertension or uncontrolled diabetes, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the patient at risk because of participation in the study, or influence the results or the patient's ability to participate in the study, or any other safety concerns in the opinion of the Investigator.
• Patient with diagnosis of any kind of chronic hepatitis or known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections at the time of enrolment.
• Patient with any active malignancy or treatment thereof within the five years prior to enrolment.
• Patient with any clinically important abnormalities in rhythm, conduction, or morphology of the screening 12-lead ECG as judged by the Investigator on the screening ECG.
• Patient with prolonged QT interval using Fridericia's correction ≥ 450 msec for males and females on the screening ECG or family history of long QT syndrome.
• Patient with PR (PQ) interval prolongation (> 240 msec), intermittent second or third degree atrio-ventricular (AV) block or AV dissociation or with QRS interval ≥ 120 msec or any other ECG abnormality which might affect the evaluation of the central ECG reading on the screening ECG.
• Patient with heart rate (HR) < 45 beat per minute (bpm) or > 90 bpm at Screening ECG.
• Patient with implanted cardiac defibrillator and patients with sustained symptomatic ventricular and/or atrial tachyarrhythmia.
• Patient with any contraindication against the use of sympathomimetic drugs as judged by the Investigator.
• Patient with unstable angina pectoris or stable angina pectoris classified higher than Canadian Cardiovascular Society Class II, or a myocardial infarction, or stroke within 6 months before Visit 1.
• Patient with a history of hospitalization within 12 months caused by heart failure or a diagnosis of heart failure higher than New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II.
• Patient who failed the screening procedures or patient with previous participation in the current study. Patients who failed the screening procedures may be re-screened once only.
• Patient with a history of or current alcohol or drug abuse (including marijuana), as judged by the Investigator.
• Patient with planned in-patient surgery, major dental procedure or hospitalization during the study.
• Patient involved in the planning and/or conduct of the study (applies to both AstraZeneca staff, contract research organization (CRO) staff and/or staff at the study site).
• Vulnerable person (e.g., person kept in detention).
• Patient with exacerbation requiring emergency room visit or systemic steroid use or increased dose of ICS within the Screening Period
• Patient who intends to use any concomitant medication not permitted by this protocol.
• Patient who received live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to Visit 1 or who received inactivated vaccine within 7 days prior to Visit 1.
• Donation or loss of > 400 mL blood and plasma within the previous 3 months prior to Screening.