Efficacy and safety of etanercept in moderate-to-severe asthma: a randomised, controlled trial.
Author(s): Holgate ST, Noonan M, Chanez P, Busse W, Dupont L, Pavord I, Hakulinen A, Paolozzi L, Wajdula J, Zang C, Nelson H, Raible D
Affiliation(s): School of Medicine, University of Southampton, III Division, Mail Point 810, Level F, South Block, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton, Hampshire, SO16 6YD, UK. sth@soton.ac.uk
Publication date & source: 2011-06, Eur Respir J., 37(6):1352-9. Epub 2010 Nov 25.
Publication type: Clinical Trial, Phase II; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Increased tumour necrosis factor-alpha levels have been observed in bronchial biopsies and induced sputum from subjects with severe asthma. We investigated etanercept (ETN) as a therapeutic option for treating moderate-to-severe persistent asthma. In this 12-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 2 trial, subjects (n=132) with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma received subcutaneous injections of 25 mg ETN or placebo twice weekly, and were evaluated at baseline, and at weeks 2, 4, 8 and 12. The primary end-point was the change from baseline to week 12 in pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)% predicted. Secondary end-points included morning peak expiratory flow, FEV1% pred, Asthma Control Questionnaire (5-item version), asthma exacerbations, provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% decrease in FEV1, and the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. No significant differences were observed between ETN and placebo for any of the efficacy end-points. ETN treatment was well tolerated, with no unexpected safety findings observed during the study. Clinical efficacy of ETN was not shown in subjects with moderate-to-severe persistent asthma over 12 weeks. However, ETN treatment was a well-tolerated therapy. Studies in specific subsets of patients with asthma with longer-term follow-up may be needed to fully evaluate the clinical efficacy of ETN in this population.
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