Explore the Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Tezepelumab in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (RACEMATE)

A RAndomised Placebo Controlled Trial - to Explore the Efficacy and Mechanism of Action of Tezepelumab in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis

RACEMATE is a phase 2b, multicentre, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study designed to explore the efficacy and mechanism of action of tezepelumab in adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: EGPA - Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Placebo; Drug: Tezepelumab

Detailed Description

RACEMATE is a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled experimental medicine study designed to explore both the efficacy and mechanism of action of tezepelumab (210 milligram [mg] administered subcutaneously [SC] every 4 weeks) compared with placebo over a 24-week study treatment period in subjects with active (non-severe) Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (EGPA) receiving standard of care therapy including background corticosteroid therapy with or without immunomodulatory therapy. This study will take place across 12 centres in the United Kingdom. Corticosteroid dose will be tapered during the treatment period in accordance with standard of care.

The key outcome of this study focuses on evaluation of clinical remission, defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) version 3 of 0 and receipt of prednisolone ≤ 4mg daily and no receipt of oral corticosteroids above baseline during the treatment period. Secondary outcomes will include reduction in disease flare, improvement in scores for asthma control, sino-nasal disease and spirometry amongst others.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 42
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United Kingdom
  • Aberdeen, United Kingdom, AB25 2ZN
    • Aberdeen Royal Infirmary - NHS Grampian
  • Birmingham, United Kingdom, B15 2GW
    • University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust
  • Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 0QQ
    • Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Edinburgh, United Kingdom
    • Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh - NHS Lothian
  • Leeds, United Kingdom
    • Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
  • Leicester, United Kingdom, LE3 9QP
    • University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
  • Liverpool, United Kingdom, L7 8YE
    • Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • London, United Kingdom, EC1A 7BE
    • Barts Health Nhs Trust
  • London, United Kingdom, W2 1PG
    • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
  • London, United Kingdom, NW3 2QG
    • Royal Free London NHS Trust
  • London, United Kingdom, SE1 9RT
    • Guy's Hospital - Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
  • London, United Kingdom, SW3 6NP
    • Royal Brompton Hospital - Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Capable of providing written informed consent

2. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis is defined as a history of asthma, a blood eosinophil level of 10% or an absolute eosinophil count of more than 1.0 x10^9/L, and the presence of two or more criteria:

   • Histopathological evidence of eosinophilic vasculitis
   • Perivascular eosinophilic infiltration, or eosinophil-rich granulomatous inflammation
   • Neuropathy
   • Pulmonary infiltrate
   • Sino-nasal abnormality
   • Cardiomyopathy
   • Glomerulonephritis
   • Alveolar haemorrhage
   • Palpable purpura
   • Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody [ANCA] positivity

3. History of relapsing and refractory disease defined as:

   Relapsing disease: One or more relapses of EGPA within 24 months prior to screening. EGPA relapses will be defined as worsening or recurrence of active disease characterised by:

   • Active vasculitis (BVAS >0); OR
   • An asthma exacerbation/asthma worsening OR
   • Active nasal and/or sinus disease

   Warranting:

   • Rescue use of prednisolone for 3 or more days OR an increase in background prednisolone dose by at least 5 mg daily for at least three days OR
   • An increased dose or addition of immunosuppressive therapy; OR
   • Hospitalisation related to EGPA worsening

   Refractory disease: Failure to attain remission (BVAS=0 AND OCS dose of prednisolone/prednisone ≤ 4 mg per day) on current standard of care treatment including patients on background anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα biological agents mepolizumab (MEPO) or benralizumab (BRZ) at any of the licensed doses for the current clinical indications of severe asthma and EGPA in the UK and Europe respectively.

4. Blood eosinophil level at screening (visit 1) of ≥ 0.2 x10^9/L (participants can be re screened once within 2 weeks if the BEC is < 0.2 x10^9/L at the initial screening assessment).

   n.b. This criterion is not relevant for participants taking background anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα biological agents mepolizumab (MEPO) or benralizumab (BRZ) in which any baseline blood eosinophil count (BEC) permitted.

5. Non severe EGPA according to the American College of Rheumatology 2021 definition.

   Non-Severe EGPA: Vasculitis without life- or organ-threatening manifestations (e.g., rhinosinusitis, asthma, mild systemic symptoms, uncomplicated cutaneous disease, mild inflammatory arthritis).

6. Stable dose of prednisolone (≥5.0 to ≤30.0 mg per day, with or without additional Immunomodulatory therapy) for at least 4 weeks before the baseline visit.

7. Immunomodulatory therapy:

   (i) If receiving non-biologic immunomodulatory therapy, the dosage must be stable for the 4 weeks prior to baseline visit.

(ii) Patients on background anti-IL-5/IL-5Rα therapy (either MEPO or BRZ) at any licensed dose for the current clinical indications of severe asthma and EGPA in the UK and Europe respectively AND have been on treatment for at least 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosis of Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).
2. Pregnancy or unable to use a highly effective method of birth control (confirmed by the Investigator) from randomisation throughout the study duration and within 8 weeks after last dose of IMP.

3. Active life- or organ-threatening manifestations of EGPA within 6 months prior to screening, defined as:

   • Severe alveolar haemorrhage
   • Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
   • Severe gastrointestinal or central nervous system involvement requiring intensification of immunosuppression or surgery
   • Severe cardiac involvement including life threatening arrhythmia, heart failure with an ejection fraction < 20% or acute myocardial infarction or active myocarditis
4. Current active malignancy.
5. Immunodeficiency including HIV
6. Helminth infection within 6-months of screening that has not been treated or remains refractory to treatment.
7. Unstable liver disease with the exception of Gilberts syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones.

8. Use of a prohibited concurrent medication as listed below:

   • Biologic therapy for severe asthma (except MEPO or BRZ) within 4 months or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to Visit 1 or receipt of any investigational non-biologic agent within 30 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is longest) prior to Visit 1.
   • Biologic therapies for EGPA including Rituximab and Alemtuzumab within 6 months of visit 1.
   • IV or SC immunoglobulin therapy within 3 months of visit 1.
   • Oral cyclophosphamide within 6 weeks of screening or IV cyclophosphamide within 4 months of visit 1.
   • IM or IV corticosteroids within 6 weeks of visit 1.
9. Known adrenal insufficiency (primary or secondary), that in the opinion of the investigator and clinical care team preclude maintenance oral steroid tapering

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Tezepelumab; Tezepelumab subcutaneous injection	Drug: Tezepelumab; Tezepelumab subcutaneous injection
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Placebo subcutaneous injection	Drug: Placebo; Placebo subcutaneous injection

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of participants who are in remission at week 24	The proportion of patients who achieve remission at week 24 (defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) version 3 score of 0 and receipt of prednisolone of ≤ 4mg daily and no receipt of oral steroids above baseline dose in the 4 weeks prior to week 24). BVAS is a validated tool for assessment of disease activity in patients with vasculitis with potential scores ranging from 0-63, with higher scores indicating worse disease activity.	Week 24

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Total accrued duration of remission	Total accrued weeks of remission defined as defined as a Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS) - version 3, score of 0 with mOCS dose of prednisolone/prednisolone ≤ 4mg/day and BVAS of 0.	Up to Week 24
Proportion of participants that demonstrate sustained remission	The proportion of patients that demonstrate sustained remission at both weeks 20 and 24 (defined as a BVAS version 3 score of 0 and receipt of prednisolone of ≤ 4 mg daily and no receipt of oral steroids above baseline dose between weeks 16 and 24)	Up to Week 24
Proportion of participants that tapered mOCS by at least 2.5 mg/day	Proportion of patients that tapered their maintenance oral corticosteroids (mOCS) by at least 2.5 mg/day of prednisolone equivalent during the OCS tapering period, who remained in remission	Up to Week 24
Change in European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level (EuroQoL-5D-5L)	Change from baseline (week 0) to week 24 in the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level (EuroQoL-5D-5L) questionnaire score. The EuroQoL-5D-5L is a validated standardised descriptive measure of health-related quality of life with potential scores ranging from "no problems" to "extreme problems" in all domains. The questionnaire also asks the participant to indicate their overall health that day on a scale of 0-100, with lower scores indicating worse health.	Up to Week 24
Change in Juniper 6-item Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6)	Change from baseline to week 12 and 24 in Juniper 6-item Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-6) score. The ACQ-6 is a validated assessment of asthma symptom control, with potential scores ranging from 0-6, with higher scores indicating worse asthma symptom control.	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Change in blood eosinophil level	Change from baseline (week 0) to week 12 and 24 in blood eosinophil level	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Change in spirometry	Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 12 and 24 in pre-bronchodilator FEV1% predicted and FEV1/FVC ratio.	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Change in FeNO	Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 12 and 24 in Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide level (FeNO).	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Change in eGFR	Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 12 and 24 in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Change in SinoNasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22)	Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 12 & 24 in the SinoNasal Outcome Test-22 questionnaire score (SNOT-22). SNOT-22 is a validated assessment of the burden of chronic rhinosinusitis with potential scores ranging from 0-110, with higher scores indicating a worse impact on health-related quality of life.	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Time to first EGPA relapse	EGPA relapse was defined as worsening or recurrence of active disease since the last visit characterised by active vasculitis (BVAS >0) or active asthma symptoms and/or signs with a corresponding worsening in Asthma Control Questionnaire-6 (ACQ-6) score or active nasal and/or sinus disease, with a corresponding worsening in at least one of the sino-nasal symptom questions warranting: (i) rescue use of prednisolone/equivalent systemic steroid for 3 or more days OR an increase in background prednisolone/equivalent systemic steroid dose by at least 5 mg daily of prednisolone equivalents for at least three days OR (ii) an increased dose or addition of immunosuppressive therapy; OR (iii) hospitalization related to EGPA worsening. The number of participants with at least one EGPA relapse during the planned study treatment period are presented.	Up to Week 24

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in nEPX	Change from baseline (week 0) to weeks 12 and 24 in nasal eosinophil peroxidase (nEPX) level.	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Change in uACR	Change from baseline (week 0) to week 12 and week 24 in urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR).	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
Change in ANCA	Change from baseline (week 0) and week 24 in Anti Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody (ANCA) status (defined by immunofluorescence and MPO/PR3 ANCA titres).	Between Week 0 and/or Week 12 and Week 24
EGPA relapse type	EGPA relapse type as assessed by the local investigator according to the following three primary categories: (1) asthma exacerbation, (2) Sino-nasal disease exacerbation, (3) relapse of systemic vasculitis.	Up to Week 24

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Imperial College London
• Collaborators: AstraZeneca
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Salman Siddiqui, MBBS, Imperial College London

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): May 15, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 8, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 19, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): January 30, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 29, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Vasculitis; Mechanism; EGPA; Tezepelumab; Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis; Experimental Medicine; Alarmin
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Autoimmune Diseases; Immune System Diseases; Skin Diseases; Lymphatic Diseases; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Skin Diseases, Vascular; Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis; Granuloma; Systemic Vasculitis; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Churg-Strauss Syndrome; Vasculitis; tezepelumab
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1007564; 21HH7284 (Other Identifier: IMPERIAL)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: to be kept with trial team

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes