Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?Often when people with asthma get a virus caused by the common cold (rhinovirus), they also experience an increase or worsening of their asthma symptoms. The purpose of this study is to see if the study medication dupilumab helps prevent those with mild to moderate asthma from having increased asthma symptoms, after being exposed to an experimental rhinovirus inoculation. This is a study about dupilumab which is a drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of moderate to severe asthma. Dupilumab is a medication that blocks pathways that cause asthmatic inflammation in the lungs, leading to symptoms and worsening lung function. During this study, subjects will be given either dupilumab or placebo and will subsequently be exposed to the the "common" cold virus (rhinovirus). The virus that the investigators are using has been safely used before in many studies like this involving thousands of volunteers, and the safe use of the virus in this research study has been reviewed by the FDA. The investigators will track asthma symptoms during the study with lung function tests, questionnaires, specimen collection, biomarkers, and physical exams. For data analysis the investigators will assess the samples collected to determine changes in the treatment groups. The investigators will also asses the symptom scores and deviations from baseline measures for lung function.
What safety data is available for Dupilumab in treating asthma?Dupilumab has been generally found to be a safe treatment for moderate to severe asthma. Clinical trials have shown it to have minimal adverse events compared to placebo, with some increase in blood eosinophils. It is well-tolerated, but more large-scale studies are needed to confirm its long-term safety and tolerability. Ocular adverse events have been reported, primarily in patients treated for atopic dermatitis, not asthma.13456
Is the drug Dupilumab a promising treatment for asthma?Yes, Dupilumab is a promising drug for asthma. It targets specific pathways involved in asthma and has shown effectiveness in treating severe cases, especially for patients who don't respond well to standard treatments. It is already approved for other conditions and has demonstrated early clinical improvements in real-life settings.12458
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?The trial protocol does not specify if you must stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot have used asthma biologic therapy, antiviral, immunosuppressive, or immune modulator therapies in the last 3 months, or any inhaled nasal sprays. You should discuss your specific medications with the study team.
What data supports the idea that Dupilumab for Asthma is an effective drug?The available research shows that Dupilumab is effective for treating severe asthma, especially for patients who do not respond well to standard treatments. It has been shown to improve symptoms in real-life settings and in clinical trials. Dupilumab targets specific pathways involved in asthma, which may give it an advantage over other drugs like omalizumab, mepolizumab, and reslizumab. However, more studies are needed to compare its effectiveness directly with these other treatments and to confirm its long-term safety.12578
Eligibility Criteria
Adults aged 18-40 with mild, well-controlled asthma may join this study. They must have a positive methacholine test, certain blood or breath markers of inflammation, and no recent use of strong immune therapies. Smokers or those with other lung diseases can't participate. Women who can get pregnant must use effective birth control.Inclusion Criteria
My asthma is managed with albuterol and possibly low to medium dose ICS, without anti-inflammatory meds for sinus issues.
I have been diagnosed with asthma for over 6 months.
I am between 18 and 40 years old.
Exclusion Criteria
I have COPD or another serious lung condition.
I use inhaled nasal sprays.
I have had an asthma attack that needed a doctor's visit or steroids in the last 3 years.
I have been hospitalized or visited the ER for severe asthma attacks.
I have smoked for more than 10 years and over 10 pack-years.
I have taken asthma biologic therapy, like dupilumab, in the last 3 months.
Treatment Details
The VIA Study is testing if dupilumab prevents worsening asthma symptoms in people with mild to moderate asthma when exposed to the common cold virus (rhinovirus). Participants will receive either dupilumab or a placebo before being exposed to the virus, followed by monitoring through tests and questionnaires.
2Treatment groups
Active Control
Placebo Group
Group I: DupilumabActive Control1 Intervention
The dupilumab dose regimen selected for this study (300 mg q2w after an initial loading dose of 600 mg)
Group II: PlaceboPlacebo Group1 Intervention
A harmless substance that looks like the study drug, but which should have no effect. The placebo formulation used in this study contains all the ingredients present in the active drug, except the active ingredient (IL-4α antibody). Therefore, the risk related to this formulation should be no greater than the risk associated to the active drug.
Dupilumab is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Dupixent for:
- Atopic dermatitis
- Asthma
- Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
🇪🇺 Approved in European Union as Dupixent for:
- Atopic dermatitis
- Asthma
- Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
- Eosinophilic esophagitis
Find a clinic near you
Research locations nearbySelect from list below to view details:
University of VirginiaCharlottesville, VA
Loading ...
Who is running the clinical trial?
University of VirginiaLead Sponsor
Regeneron PharmaceuticalsIndustry Sponsor
References
Dupilumab for the treatment of asthma. [2019]Dupilumab (REGN668/SAR231893), produced by a collaboration between Regeneron and Sanofi, is a monoclonal antibody currently in phase III for moderate-to-severe asthma. Dupilumab is directed against the α-subunit of the interleukin (IL)-4 receptor and blocks the IL-4 and IL-13 signal transduction. Areas covered: Pathophysiological role of IL-4 and IL-13 in asthma; mechanism of action of dupilumab; pharmacology of IL-4 receptor; phase I and phase II studies with dupilumab; regulatory affairs. Expert opinion: Patients with severe asthma who are not sufficiently controlled with standard-of-care represent the target asthma population for dupilumab. If confirmed, efficacy of dupilumab in both eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic severe asthma phenotype might represent an advantage over approved biologics for asthma, including omalizumab, mepolizumab, and reslizumab. Head-to-head studies to compare dupilumab versus other biologics with different mechanism of action are required. Pediatric studies with dupilumab are currently lacking and should be undertaken to assess efficacy and safety of this drug in children with severe asthma. The lack of preclinical data and published results of the completed four phase I studies precludes a complete assessment of the pharmacological profile of dupilumab. Dupilumab seems to be generally well tolerated, but large studies are required to establish its long-term safety and tolerability.
Dupixent, a New Entrant In the Asthma Lists. [2019]Sanofi and Regeneron's Dupixent (dupilumab)-which is already approved for atopic dermatitis-has an FDA action date of October 20 for its asthma indication. It will join Nucala, (mepolizumab), Cinqair (reslizumab), and Fasenra (benralizumab) as a monoclonal antibody approved as a treatment for the type 2 inflammation phenotype in severe asthma.
Dupilumab in the treatment of asthma. [2020]Dupilumab is a fully human monoclonal IgG4 antibody that blocks IL-4 and IL-13 signaling. Its efficacy has been assessed across a range of atopic diseases, due to its ability to inhibit T helper cell 2 (Th2) mediated inflammation. It has already been approved in the USA and Europe for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. Recently, it also gained approval in the USA as add-on treatment for moderate-to-severe asthma in adolescents and adults. Phase II and III randomized controlled trials have demonstrated improvements in asthma exacerbation rates, FEV1, oral glucocorticoid use and a range of patient-reported outcomes, with a favorable safety profile. This article will review the available clinical trial data relating to the efficacy and safety of dupilumab in the management of asthma and related atopic respiratory conditions.
Incidence and risk factors for dupilumab associated ocular adverse events: a real-life prospective study. [2021]Dupilumab is approved for use in moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and as an add-on maintenance treatment in patients suffering from severe asthma with type 2 inflammation. Ocular adverse events (OAEs) have been reported with dupilumab almost exclusively in patients treated for AD.
Early effectiveness of type-2 severe asthma treatment with dupilumab in a real-life setting; a FeNO-driven choice that leads to winning management. [2022]Dupilumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the IL4/IL13 signaling pathway, already used for atopic dermatitis and chronic rhinitis with nasal polyps, recently approved for severe type-2 asthma. Its efficacy has been demonstrated in randomized control trials. The aim of our study is to evaluate possible early clinical improvement and type 2 biomarkers modifications in severe asthmatic patients treated with dupilumab in a real-life setting.
Dupilumab efficacy and safety in patients with moderate to severe asthma: A systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]Background: Dupilumab is a human monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha subunit of the interleukin-4 receptor and inhibits the signaling of IL-4 and IL-13. It is approved for treating asthma and other type-2 inflammatory diseases. There is a conflict in the literature regarding the safety and efficacy of dupilumab. Thus, we aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of dupilumab in patients with moderate to severe asthma. Methods: Six databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane library, and clinicaltrials.gov registry) were searched until January 2022. We included randomized controlled trials that compared dupilumab with the placebo in moderate to severe asthma patients. We extracted the data at 12 and 24 weeks and analyzed them using review manager 5.4. Findings: Thirteen trials were included. Dupilumab significantly improved the forced expiratory volume in 1 s, asthma control questionnaire score, the fraction of exhaled nitric oxide level, and immunoglobulin E level at 12 and 24 weeks (p < 0.05). However, it was associated with increased blood eosinophils at 12 and 24 weeks. Dupilumab was generally a safe agent for asthmatic patients. It showed no significant difference compared with the placebo regarding most adverse events. Conclusion: Dupilumab improves pulmonary function and reduces local and systemic inflammatory markers with minimal adverse events in patients with moderate to severe asthma.
Time effect of dupilumab to treat severe uncontrolled asthma in adolescents: A pilot study. [2023]Dupilumab is a new biological drug approved for the treatment of type 2 inflammatory diseases, such as asthma. Dupilumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody that acts against both interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 receptors. This study evaluated the time--dependent effect of dupilumab on asthma exacerbations and quality of life in adolescents with uncontrolled severe asthma.
Real-World Characteristics of Patients with Severe Asthma prior to Starting Dupilumab: The ProVENT Study. [2023]Dupilumab is approved for the treatment of severe type 2 (T2) asthma; however, the characteristics of patients receiving dupilumab in routine clinical practice are incompletely understood. This study describes the characteristics of patients with severe asthma before dupilumab treatment in a real-world setting.