Effect of Fluticasone Furoate Inhalation Powder on the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical Axis of Children Aged 5-11 Years With Asthma

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Parallel Group Study of Once-daily Inhaled Fluticasone Furoate Inhalation Powder for Six Weeks on the Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical Axis of Children Aged 5-11 Years With Asthma

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) have a number of known class effects including hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis suppression. Although the safety of inhaled Fluticasone Furoate (FF) on the HPA axis of adults and adolescent asthmatic patients has been established, it is important to assess the risk of suppression in children so as to establish whether this medicine can be safely used in this young population. This study aims to evaluate the effect of inhaled FF on the HPA axis of children 5-11 years of age (inclusive) with persistent asthma compared with placebo. Approximately 143 subjects will be enrolled. Subjects will enter a 7 to 14 day run-in period on oral montelukast 4 milligrams (mg) (5 year old subjects) or 5 mg (6-11 year old subjects) once daily. Eligible subjects will be randomized to receive once-daily FF inhalation powder 50 micrograms (mcg) or once-daily placebo inhalation powder in the morning via the ELLIPTA™ inhaler for 42 days. Subjects will continue to receive open label montelukast during the treatment period. All subjects will be provided albuterol/salbutamol inhalation aerosol, to use as needed to treat acute asthma symptoms throughout the study.

ELLIPTA is a registered trademark of the GlaxoSmithKline group of companies.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Asthma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: FF; Drug: Montelukast; Drug: Albuterol/Salbutamol; Drug: Placebo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 111
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• South Africa
  • Bellville, South Africa, 7530
    • GSK Investigational Site
  • Mpumalanga
    • Middelburg, Mpumalanga, South Africa, 1055
      • GSK Investigational Site
  • Western Province
    • Panorama, Western Province, South Africa, 7500
      • GSK Investigational Site
• United States
  • Arkansas
    • Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, 72211
      • GSK Investigational Site
  • California
    • Alhambra, California, United States, 91801
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Costa Mesa, California, United States, 92626
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Huntington Beach, California, United States, 92647
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Newport Beach, California, United States, 92663
      • GSK Investigational Site
  • Florida
    • Homestead, Florida, United States, 33030
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Miami, Florida, United States, 33135
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Miami, Florida, United States, 33142
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Miami, Florida, United States, 33175
      • GSK Investigational Site
  • North Carolina
    • Raleigh, North Carolina, United States, 27607
      • GSK Investigational Site
  • Oklahoma
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73120
      • GSK Investigational Site
    • Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States, 73112
      • GSK Investigational Site
  • South Carolina
    • Orangeburg, South Carolina, United States, 29118
      • GSK Investigational Site
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77055
      • GSK Investigational Site

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 5 years to 11 years (CHILD)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Informed consent: Written informed consent from at least one parent/care giver and the accompanying informed assent from the subject (where the subject is able to provide assent) prior to admission to the study.

If applicable, subject must be able and willing to give assent to take part in the study according to the local requirement. The study investigator is accountable for determining a child's capacity to assent to participation in a research study, taking into consideration any standards set by the responsible Independent Ethics Committee (IEC)/Institutional Review Board (IRB).

Subject and their legal guardian understands that they must comply with study medication and study assessments.

• Age: 5-11 years (inclusive) at Visit 1.
• Weight: Subjects must weigh at least 17 kilograms (kg).
• Gender: Male and pre-menarchial female. Pre-menarchial females are defined as any female who has yet to begin menses.
• Diagnosis of asthma: Subjects must have a diagnosis of asthma documented in their medical history at least 6 months prior to Visit 1.
• Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT): Subjects must have a C-ACT score of >19.
• Asthma Therapy Prior to Visit 1: Subjects are eligible if they have been using non-corticosteroid controller and/or short-acting beta2-agonist (SABA) bronchodilators alone for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.
• Ability to use Dry Powder Inhalers: Subjects must demonstrate the ability to use the ELLIPTA inhaler under the supervision of their parents/caregiver.
• SABA: All subjects must be able to replace their current SABA treatment with albuterol/salbutamol aerosol inhaler at Visit 1 for use as needed for the duration of the study. Albuterol/salbutamol metered dose inhaler (MDI) will be administered with or without a spacer, to be used as determined by the investigator. The use or non-use of the spacer should be consistent for an individual subject throughout the study.
• Peak Flow Meter/Daily Diary Compliance: A subject must be able to use the study-provided peak flow meter and the subject/caregiver must be able to maintain the electronic diary record.

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of Life-Threatening Asthma: Subjects with a history of life-threatening asthma defined for this protocol as an asthma episode that required intubation, hypercapnea requiring non-invasive ventilatory support, respiratory arrest, hypoxic seizures or asthma-related syncopal episode(s).
• Asthma Exacerbation: Subjects with a history of asthma exacerbation requiring the use of systemic corticosteroids (tablets, suspension, or injection) for at least 3 days or a depot corticosteroid injection (within 3 months) or requiring hospitalization for asthma (within 6 months) prior to screening.
• Respiratory Infection: Culture-documented or suspected bacterial or viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract, sinus or middle ear that is not resolved within 4 weeks of Visit 1 and led to a change in asthma management or in the opinion of the Investigator, expected to affect the subject's asthma status or the subject's ability to participate in the study.
• Oropharyngeal Examination: A subject will not be eligible for the run-in if he/she has clinical visual evidence of candidiasis at Visit 1.
• Concurrent Disease: Any significant abnormality or medical condition identified at the screening medical assessment (including serious psychological disorder and congenital metabolic disorders) likely to interfere with the conduct of the study or affect the safety of the patient.
• Allergies/Intolerance:

Drug Allergy/Intolerance: Any adverse reaction including immediate or delayed hypersensitivity to any Leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), or intranasal, inhaled, or systemic corticosteroid therapy. Known or suspected sensitivity/intolerance to the constituents of the powder inhaler (i.e. lactose) or montelukast (e.g. phenylalanine).

Milk Protein Allergy: History of severe milk protein allergy.

• Corticosteroid Use:

Administration of systemic, oral, or depot corticosteroids within 12 weeks of Visit 1 is prohibited and during the study.

Use of an ICS is prohibited during the 8 weeks prior to Visit 1 and during the study.

Use of intranasal corticosteroids is prohibited during the 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 and during the study.

Use of dermatological/topical corticosteroids during the 8 weeks prior to Visit 1 and during the study.

• Concomitant Medication: Use of prescription or over-the-counter medications that would significantly affect the course of asthma or the HPA axis system of subjects. In addition, use of potent cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors within 4 weeks of Visit 1 and during the study (e.g., Clarithromycin, atazanavir, indinavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole, nefazadone, nelfinavir; ritonavir; saquinavir; telithromycin, troleandomycin, voriconazole, mibefradil, cyclosporine).
• Tobacco/Marijuana Use: Present use of any tobacco or marijuana products.
• Affiliation with Investigator's Site: A subject will not be eligible for this study if he/she is an immediate family member of the participating investigator, sub-investigator, study coordinator, or employee of the participating investigator.
• Parental/ Guardian Factors: Parent or Guardian with a history of psychiatric disease, intellectual deficiency, substance abuse or other condition (e.g. inability to read, comprehend or write) which may affect: validity of consent to participate in the study, adequate supervision of the subject during the study, compliance of subject with study medication and study procedures (e.g. completion of daily diary, attending scheduled clinic visits) and subject safety and well-being.
• Children in Care: Children who are wards of the government or state are not eligible for participation in this study.
• Clinically significant obesity: Defined as greater than 98th percentile.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: TREATMENT
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: TRIPLE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: FF 50 mcg; Subjects will receive by oral inhalation FF 50 mcg once daily in the morning via ELLIPTA for 42 days. Subjects will continue to receive oral montelukast once daily in the evening and may use albuterol/salbutamol inhalation aerosol as needed.	Drug: FF; FF will be provided as a dry powder inhaler with 30 doses per device, each containing 50 mcg of FF as a dry white powder per blister, to be inhaled orally via ELLIPTA.; Drug: Montelukast; Montelukast will be provided as 4 mg and 5 mg chewable tablets.; Drug: Albuterol/Salbutamol; Albuterol/Salbutamol will be provided as inhalation aerosol.
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Subjects will receive by oral inhalation placebo once daily in the morning via ELLIPTA for 42 days. Subjects will continue to receive oral montelukast once daily in the evening and may use albuterol/salbutamol inhalation aerosol as needed.	Drug: Montelukast; Montelukast will be provided as 4 mg and 5 mg chewable tablets.; Drug: Albuterol/Salbutamol; Albuterol/Salbutamol will be provided as inhalation aerosol.; Drug: Placebo; Placebo will be provided as dry powder inhaler with 30 doses per device, each containing placebo as a dry white powder per blister, to be inhaled orally via ELLIPTA.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline (Expressed as a Ratio) in 0-24 Hour Weighted Mean Serum Cortisol at the End of the Six Week Treatment Period (D 42) in Intention-to-treat (ITT) Population	The blood samples for statistical analysis of serum cortisol (SC) endpoints were collected on D 0 and D 42 at the indicated time points. The weighted mean was calculated by dividing the area under the curve (AUC) over the 24-hour (hr) time period by the time period. Change from Baseline in 0-24 hr weighted mean SC was calculated as a ratio from Baseline defined as the SC weighted mean (0-24 hours) at Week 6 divided by the Baseline SC weighted mean (0-24 hours).The ratio from Baseline was loge transformed prior to analysis. The loge transformed ratios were compared between treatment groups as treatment ratios, using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model, allowing for the effects of Baseline (loge transformed), age, sex and region. Treatment ratios for comparison was calculated by back-transforming the difference between the Least square (LS) means. Using the pooled estimate of variance, 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) was calculated for the difference.	Baseline, D 0 (Pre-dose, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 12hr, 16hr and 24hr) and Day 42 (0hr, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 16hr and 24hr)
Change From Baseline (Expressed as a Ratio) in 0-24 Hour Weighted Mean Serum Cortisol at the End of the Six Week Treatment Period (Day 42) in SC Population	The blood samples for statistical analysis of serum cortisol (SC) endpoints were collected on D0 and D42 at indicated time points. The weighted mean was calculated by dividing the area under curve (AUC) over the 24-hr time period by time period. Change from Baseline in 0-24 hr weighted mean SC was calculated as a ratio from baseline defined as SC weighted mean (0-24 hrs) at Wk 6 divided by the baseline SC weighted mean (0-24 hrs). The ratio as treatment ratios, using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model, allowing for the effects of baseline (loge transformed from baseline was loge transformed prior to analysis. The loge transformed ratios were compared between treatment groups), age, sex and region. Treatment ratios for comparison was calculated by back-transforming the difference between Least square (LS) means. Using the pooled estimate of variance, 95% CIs) was calculated for the difference.	Baseline, Day 0 (Predose, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 12hr, 16hr and 24hr) and Day 42 (0hr, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 16hr and 24hr)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change From Baseline (Expressed as a Ratio) in Area Under the Curve (AUC) 0-24 Hour Serum Cortisol at the End of the Six Week Treatment Period (Day 42).	The blood samples for statistical analysis of area under the curve over the 24 hours (AUC 0-24 hours) endpoints were collected on Day 0 and Day 42 at the indicated time points. The AUC 0-24 hours was calculated using trapezoidal rule. Change from baseline in AUC 0-24 hour was calculated as a ratio from baseline defined as the AUC (0-24 hours) at Week 6 divided by the baseline AUC (0-24 hours) The ratio from baseline was loge transformed prior to analysis. The loge transformed ratios were compared between treatment groups as treatment ratios using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model, allowing for the effects of baseline (loge transformed), age, sex and region. Treatment ratios for comparison was calculated by back-transforming the difference between the Least square (LS) means. Using the pooled estimate of variance, 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) was calculated for the difference. Par. with SC weighted mean (0-24hr) calculated at baseline and Week 6 were analyzed	Baseline and Week Baseline, Day 0 (Predose, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 12hr, 16hr and 24hr) and Day 42 (0hr, 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 16hr and 24hr)
Change From Baseline (Expressed as a Ratio) in 24-hour Urinary Cortisol Excretion at the End of the Six Week Treatment Period (Day 42)	The 24 hr urinary cortisol excretion was collected over a 24 hour period on Day 0 and Day 42. Change from baseline in 24- hr urinary cortisol excretion was calculated as a ratio from baseline defined as 24-hr urinary cortisol excretion at Week 6 divided by the baseline 24-hr urinary cortisol excretion. The ratio from baseline was loge transformed prior to analysis. The loge transformed ratio was compared between treatment groups using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model, allowing for the effects of baseline (loge transformed), age, sex and region. Treatment ratios for comparison was calculated by back-transforming the difference between the Least square (LS) means. Using the pooled estimate of variance, 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) was calculated for the difference. Participants with 24-hr urinary cortisol excretion at baseline and Week 6 were analyzed.	Baseline (Day 0) Day 42
Change From Baseline (Expressed as a Ratio) in 24-hour 6-beta Hydroxycortisol Excretion at the End of the Six Week Treatment Period (Day 42).	The 24 hr urinary 6-beta hydroxycortisol excretion was collected over a 24 hour period on Day 0 and Day 42. Change from baseline in 24- hr urinary 6-beta hydroxycortisol excretion was calculated as a ratio from baseline defined as 24-hr urinary 6-beta hydroxycortisol excretion at Week 6 divided by the baseline 24-hr urinary 6-beta hydroxycortisol excretion. The ratio from baseline was loge transformed prior to analysis. The loge transformed ratio was compared between treatment groups using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) model, allowing for the effects of baseline (loge transformed), age, sex and region. Treatment ratios for comparison was calculated by back-transforming the difference between the Least square (LS) means. Using the pooled estimate of variance, 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) was calculated for the difference. Participants with 24-hr urinary cortisol excretion at baseline and Week 6 were analyzed.	Baseline (Day 0) Day 42

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: GlaxoSmithKline

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Bareille P, Tomkins S, Imber V, Tayob M, Dunn K, Mehta R, Khindri S. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study of once-daily inhaled fluticasone furoate on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis of children with asthma. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol. 2020 Feb 4;16:11. doi: 10.1186/s13223-020-0406-6. eCollection 2020.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 9, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 20, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): June 21, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 25, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 25, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): June 29, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 27, 2020
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 10, 2020
• Last Verified: April 1, 2020

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Asthma; Children; Fluticasone Furoate; Inhaled corticosteroid; HPA axis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Lung Diseases; Hypersensitivity, Immediate; Bronchial Diseases; Lung Diseases, Obstructive; Respiratory Hypersensitivity; Hypersensitivity; Asthma; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Adrenergic Agents; Neurotransmitter Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Autonomic Agents; Peripheral Nervous System Agents; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Adrenergic Agonists; Bronchodilator Agents; Anti-Asthmatic Agents; Respiratory System Agents; Leukotriene Antagonists; Hormone Antagonists; Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 Inducers; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inducers; Reproductive Control Agents; Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; Adrenergic beta-Agonists; Tocolytic Agents; Montelukast; Albuterol
• Other Study ID Numbers: 107118

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: IPD for this study will be made available via the Clinical Study Data Request site.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: IPD is available via the Clinical Study Data Request site (click on the link provided below)
• IPD Sharing Access Criteria: Access is provided after a research proposal is submitted and has received approval from the Independent Review Panel and after a Data Sharing Agreement is in place. Access is provided for an initial period of 12 months but an extension can be granted, when justified, for up to another 12 months.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; SAP; ICF; CSR