Biomarkers of asthma remission after tezepelumab treatment

ISRCTN ISRCTN75982397
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN75982397
IRAS number 323812
Secondary identifying numbers UoL0902, IRAS 323812, CPMS 55639
Submission date
10/05/2023
Registration date
12/05/2023
Last edited
28/02/2025
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Asthma affects over 350 million people in the world. About 5-10% of people with asthma have severe disease. Asthma is a lung disease associated with inflammation (swelling) of the airways. Certain proteins made by the body, called interleukins, can make this inflammation worse. White blood cells (called eosinophils) are also involved in the inflammation of the airways.
Tezepelumab is a medicine that elicits broad inhibitory effects on pathways that are key to asthma inflammation. It causes reductions in levels of a broad spectrum of proteins (eg, interleukin [IL]-5, IL-13) and blood eosinophils, immunoglobulin [Ig]E and fractional exhaled nitric oxide [FeNO], all of which are responsible for inflammation of the airways.
It is given as an injection under the skin and may help reduce inflammation in the airways of people with asthma. Previous research studies in people with severe asthma have shown tezepelumab to be safe, well tolerated, and provides clinically meaningful improvements in asthma control, including reduced incidence of exacerbations and hospitalizations in patients with severe asthma, and it is now approved for the treatment of severe asthma in the UK. Research studies have shown that people who received tezepelumab experienced about half as many asthma exacerbations (severe episodes of asthma or attacks) compared to those given placebo (dummy) injections.
In this research study the researchers want to observe all participants having tezepelumab injections as part of their normal clinical care. They would like to try and understand what might be causing the high levels of disease control, including the absence of symptoms and exacerbations. By doing this they hope to be able to obtain information that may help to improve asthma treatment in the future.
The researchers will study the effect of the medicine ‘tezepelumab’ on all aspects of asthma such as changes in quality of life, symptoms, inflammation and breathing tests.

Who can participate?
Patients aged 18 years and over following a clinical decision to initiate tezepelumab for severe asthma after meeting licensing, local and national guidelines

What does the study involve?
Every participant taking part in the study will be receiving the medication tezepelumab injections as part of their normal clinical care. Participants will be asked to attend a total of seven scheduled visits at the study centre. Visit 0 and Visit 1 can be combined where feasible to do so. In between study visits participants will be asked to complete some breathing tests at home. They will be asked to monitor their peak flow (maximum rate a person can breathe out) and a test for exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) every day for the first 4 weeks of the study and then once a week afterwards. This is to monitor the usual variation in their asthma symptoms and airway function, and how this might change if they become unwell.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There is no guarantee that participants will receive any benefit from this study, and taking part in this study may or may not improve their asthma. Information from this study may help asthma treatment in the future. There are possible risks, disadvantages and inconveniences with any research study. The individual risks of each procedure and investigation are described fully in the participant information sheet. Participants will also potentially have more tests and procedures if they take part in the study, compared to standard hospital visits. Study visits could take more time than standard hospital visits and they will have more blood taken. Each study visit can last about 1-3 hours. Participants will have to do additional monitoring of their asthma at home as the study requires them to keep track of their peak flow reading and lung inflammation with FeNO (about 10 minutes).

Where is the study run from?
This is a research project organised by the NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre – Respiratory at Glenfield Hospital. This study is part of a larger programme of studies, called 3TR. 3TR is a European research group aimed at improving the treatment of asthma and COPD. This study is being conducted by a group of clinical and academic experts from UK universities and Europe, together with pharmaceutical companies who have an interest in asthma. The sponsor of the study is the University of Leicester (UK). The sponsor is the organisation responsible for ensuring that the study is carried out correctly.

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2023 to August 2026

Who is funding the study?
AstraZeneca

Who is the main contact?
1. UK project management team, abc-3tr@leicester.ac.uk
2. Prof. Chris Brightling, ceb17@leicester.ac.uk

Study website

Contact information

Miss Bonnie Millar
Public

Department of Respiratory Sciences
University of Leicester
Glenfield Hospital
Groby Road
Leicester
LE3 9QP
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)116 252 2893
Email abc-3tr@leicester.ac.uk
Prof Christopher Brightling
Principal Investigator

Department of Respiratory Sciences
University of Leicester
NIHR Leicester Biomedical Research Centre – Respiratory
Glenfield Hospital
Groby Road
Leicester
LE3 9QP
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-9345-4903
Phone +44 (0)116 250 2704
Email abc-3tr@leicester.ac.uk

Study information

Study designMulti-centre multi-national observational study
Primary study designObservational
Secondary study designLongitudinal study
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a participant information sheet
Scientific titleBiomarkers and mechanisms of asthma remission following treatment with tezepelumab in adults with severe asthma – 3TR ABC
Study acronymTEZEBIO – 3TR ABC
Study hypothesisAsthma remission following treatment with tezepelumab is related to baseline phenotype and biomarker(s) or early changes in biomarkers.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 20/04/2023, East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee (Health Research Authority, 2nd Floor, Equinox House, City link, Nottingham, NG2 4LA, United Kingdom; +44 (0)2071048115; Nottingham1.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 23/EM/0072

ConditionSevere asthma
InterventionTEZEBIO – 3TR ABC is a multi-centre observational study of patients with severe asthma following initiation of treatment with tezepelumab (anti-TSLP) as part of their standard of care. Participants will be extensively characterised at baseline; reviewed throughout the year with formal clinical and biological assessment at 4, 16, 52 weeks, 2 years and 3 years. Asthma remission will be defined for each domain: asthma control, lung function, and exacerbations as a composite measure and independently. Biomarkers and multi-omic analysis will be undertaken in the biosamples to determine biological pathways and bio-signatures associated with asthma remission. The primary outcome will be assessed at 1 year. This study is one of three arms aligned to the 3TR (taxonomy, treatment, targets and remission) EU-IMI consortium asthma biologics consortium (3TR-ABC).
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Adequacy of asthma control and change in asthma control measured using the Asthma Control Questionnaire 5 Questions (ACQ5) <1.5, assessed at 1 year
2. Pulmonary function measured using post-bronchodilator (post BD) Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) percent predicted, at 1 year
3. Exacerbations history, assessed using medical history at 1 year
4. Oral corticosteroids use, assessed using medical history and current medications at 1 year
Secondary outcome measuresCurrent secondary outcome measures as of 30/07/2024:

1. Patient-reported outcomes:
1.1. Adequacy of asthma control and change in asthma control measured using the Asthma Control Questionnaire 5 Questions (ACQ5), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.2. Physical and emotional impact of asthma measured using Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.3. Quality of life in people with severe asthma measured using the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.4. Health-related quality of life measured using the EQ5D5L health status questionnaire, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.5. Effect of health problems on ability to work and perform regular activities measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment General Health (WPAI:GH) questionnaire, assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.6. Quality of life and symptom control in allergic rhinitis measured using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 Questionnaire (SNOT22), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.7. Symptoms associated with dysfunctional breathing patterns measured using the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.8. Subjective measure of sleepiness measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.9. Symptoms of anxiety and depression measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.10. Level of fatigue during daily activities measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) fatigue scale, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.11. Cognition measured using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP), Trail Making test (TMT) part B (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16) and visit 4 (week 52).
1.12. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Global evaluation treatment efficacy (GETE), patient and physician-related response, assessed at visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.13. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Visual analogue scale (VAS) scale 3TR question (patient and physician perceived), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).

1.14 Symptoms measured using Symptoms VAS at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.

2. Lung function measured using:
2.1. Pre and post BD spirometry, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
2.2. Post BD Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
2.3. Mannitol test, assessed at visit 1 (week 0) and visit 4 (week 52).

3. Biomarkers measured using:
3.1. Blood: differential cell count, total IgE and transcriptome (and in a subgroup scRNA), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years). Specific IgE if not done with skin prick tests (cat dander, dog dander, house dust mite, grass pollen and Aspergillus IgE) and immunophenotyping, methylome (DNA collected for possible later eQTL analyses depending upon transcriptome data), assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.2. Nasal sampling: nasal brushings, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.3. Breath: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit; and breathomics assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), and visit 4 (week 52).
3.4. Sputum: cell differential, transcriptome, micro/metagenomics and proteomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.5. Saliva: Microbiome analysis and DNA, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.6. Urine: Urinary lipid mediators and metabolomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.7. Thoracic CT (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0)
3.8. Stool (optional): micro/metagenomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
3.9. Bronchoscopy (optional): brush biopsy, bronchial biopsies and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) for transcriptome, protein, micro/metagenomics, cellular and structural analyses, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.10. Mucosal biopsies: histological analysis of cells and inflammatory mediators, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years)

_____

Previous secondary outcome measures as of 19/01/2024:

1. Patient-reported outcomes:
1.1. Adequacy of asthma control and change in asthma control measured using the Asthma Control Questionnaire 5 Questions (ACQ5), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.2. Physical and emotional impact of asthma measured using Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.3. Quality of life in people with severe asthma measured using the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.4. Health-related quality of life measured using the EQ5D5L health status questionnaire, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.5. Effect of health problems on ability to work and perform regular activities measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment General Health (WPAI:GH) questionnaire, assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.6. Quality of life and symptom control in allergic rhinitis measured using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 Questionnaire (SNOT22), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.7. Symptoms associated with dysfunctional breathing patterns measured using the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.8. Subjective measure of sleepiness measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.9. Symptoms of anxiety and depression measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.10. Level of fatigue during daily activities measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) fatigue scale, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.11. Cognition measured using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP), Trail Making test (TMT) part B (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16) and visit 4 (week 52).
1.12. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Global evaluation treatment efficacy (GETE), patient and physician-related response, assessed at visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.13. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Visual analogue scale (VAS) scale 3TR question (patient and physician perceived), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).

1.14 Symptoms measured using Symptoms VAS at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.

2. Lung function measured using:
2.1. Pre and post BD spirometry, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
2.2. Post BD Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
2.3. Mannitol test, assessed at visit 1 (week 0) and visit 4 (week 52).

3. Biomarkers measured using:
3.1. Blood: differential cell count, total IgE and transcriptome (and in a subgroup scRNA), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years). Specific IgE if not done with skin prick tests (cat dander, dog dander, house dust mite, grass pollen and Aspergillus IgE) and immunophenotyping, methylome (DNA collected for possible later eQTL analyses depending upon transcriptome data), assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.2. Nasal sampling: nasal brushings, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.3. Breath: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and ReCIVA for breathomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
3.4. Sputum: cell differential, transcriptome, micro/metagenomics and proteomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.5. Saliva: Microbiome analysis and DNA, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.6. Urine: Urinary lipid mediators and metabolomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.7. Thoracic CT (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0)
3.8. Stool (optional): micro/metagenomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
3.9. Bronchoscopy (optional): brush biopsy, bronchial biopsies and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) for transcriptome, protein, micro/metagenomics, cellular and structural analyses, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.10. Mucosal biopsies: histological analysis of cells and inflammatory mediators, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years)

_____

Previous secondary outcome measures as of 11/08/2023:

1. Patient-reported outcomes:
1.1. Adequacy of asthma control and change in asthma control measured using the Asthma Control Questionnaire 5 Questions (ACQ5), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
1.2. Physical and emotional impact of asthma measured using Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.3. Quality of life in people with severe asthma measured using the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.4. Health-related quality of life measured using the EQ5D5L health status questionnaire, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.5. Effect of health problems on ability to work and perform regular activities measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.6. Quality of life and symptom control in allergic rhinitis measured using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 Questionnaire (SNOT22), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.7. Symptoms associated with dysfunctional breathing patterns measured using the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.8. Subjective measure of sleepiness measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.9. Symptoms of anxiety and depression measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.10. Level of fatigue during daily activities measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) fatigue scale, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.11. Cognition measured using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP), Trail Making test (TMT) (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16) and visit 4 (week 52).
1.12. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Global evaluation treatment efficacy (GETE), patient and physician-related response, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.13. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Visual analogue scale (VAS) scale 3TR question (patient and physician perceived), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).

2. Lung function measured using:
2.1. Pre and post BD spirometry, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
2.2. Post BD Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
2.3. Mannitol test, assessed at visit 1 (week 0) and visit 4 (week 52).

3. Biomarkers measured using:
3.1. Blood: differential cell count, total IgE and transcriptome (and in a subgroup scRNA), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years). Specific IgE if not done with skin prick tests (cat dander, dog dander, house dust mite, grass pollen and Aspergillus IgE) and immunophenotyping, methylome (DNA collected for possible later eQTL analyses depending upon transcriptome data), assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.2. Nasal sampling: nasal brushings, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.3. Breath: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and ReCIVA for breathomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
3.4. Sputum: cell differential, transcriptome, micro/metagenomics and proteomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.5. Oral gargle: Microbiome analysis, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.6. Urine: Urinary lipid mediators and metabolomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.7. Thoracic CT (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0)
3.8. Stool (optional): micro/metagenomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
3.9. Bronchoscopy (optional): brush biopsy, bronchial biopsies and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) for transcriptome, protein, micro/metagenomics, cellular and structural analyses, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.10. Mucosal biopsies: histological analysis of cells and inflammatory mediators, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years)

_____

Previous secondary outcome measures:

1. Patient-reported outcomes:
1.1. Adequacy of asthma control and change in asthma control measured using the Asthma Control Questionnaire 5 Questions (ACQ5), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
1.2. Physical and emotional impact of asthma measured using Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.3. Quality of life in people with severe asthma measured using the Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.4. Health-related quality of life measured using the EQ5D5L health status questionnaire, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.5. Effect of health problems on ability to work and perform regular activities measured using the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAI), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.6. Quality of life and symptom control in allergic rhinitis measured using the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 Questionnaire (SNOT22), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.7. Symptoms associated with dysfunctional breathing patterns measured using the Nijmegen Questionnaire (NQ), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.8. Subjective measure of sleepiness measured using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.9. Symptoms of anxiety and depression measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), assessed visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.10. Level of fatigue during daily activities measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) fatigue scale, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.11. Cognition measured using the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, Screen for Cognitive Impairment in Psychiatry (SCIP), Trail Making test (TMT) (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 3 (week 16) and visit 4 (week 52).
1.12. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Global evaluation treatment efficacy (GETE), patient and physician-related response, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
1.13. Treatment effectiveness measured using the Visual analogue scale (VAS) scale 3TR question (patient and physician perceived), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).

2. Lung function measured using:
2.1. Pre and post BD spirometry, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
2.2. Post BD Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
2.3. Mannitol test, assessed at visit 1 (week 0) and visit 4 (week 52).

3. Biomarkers measured using:
3.1. Blood: differential cell count, total IgE and transcriptome (and in a subgroup scRNA), assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years). Specific IgE if not done with skin prick tests (cat dander, dog dander, house dust mite, grass pollen and Aspergillus IgE) and immunophenotyping, methylome (DNA collected for possible later eQTL analyses depending upon transcriptome data), assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.2. Nasal sampling: nasal brushings, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.3. Breath: Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), and ReCIVA for breathomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
3.4. Sputum: cell differential, transcriptome, micro/metagenomics and proteomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.5. Oral gargle: Microbiome analysis, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.6. Urine: Urinary lipid mediators and metabolomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years), and unscheduled exacerbation visit at sites where feasible/applicable.
3.7. Thoracic CT (specific sites), assessed at visit 1 (week 0)
3.8. Stool (optional): micro/metagenomics, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years).
3.9. Bronchoscopy (optional): brush biopsy, bronchial biopsies and broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) for transcriptome, protein, micro/metagenomics, cellular and structural analyses, assessed at visit 1 (week 0).
3.10. Mucosal biopsies: histological analysis of cells and inflammatory mediators, assessed at visit 1 (week 0), visit 2 (week 4), visit 3 (week 16), visit 4 (week 52), visit 5 (2 years), visit 6 (3 years)
Overall study start date01/03/2023
Overall study end date31/08/2026

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants156
Participant inclusion criteria1. Adult (≥18 years old)
2. Clinical decision to initiate tezepelumab for severe asthma after meeting licensing, local and national guidelines
3. Be able to give valid written consent; compliant with study procedures and study visits
Participant exclusion criteria1. Known hypersensitivity to the active substance of tezepelumab or any of the excipients
2. Participation in an interventional clinical trial within 3 months of visit 1 or receipt of any investigational medicinal product within 3 months or 5 half-lives. Participation in other observational studies is acceptable if in the view of the investigator it will not impact the study outcomes
3. Other clinically significant medical disease or uncontrolled concomitant disease that is likely, in the opinion of the investigator, to require a change in therapy or impact the ability to participate in the study
Recruitment start date31/08/2023
Recruitment end date31/05/2025

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • Northern Ireland
  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centres

University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Glenfield Hospital
Groby Rd
Leicester
LE3 9QP
United Kingdom
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Cobbett House
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9WL
United Kingdom
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde
J B Russell House
Gartnavel Royal Hospital
1055 Great Western Road Glasgow
Glasgow
G12 0XH
United Kingdom
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
Trust Headquarters
A Floor - Belfast City Hospital
Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7AB
United Kingdom
Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Sydney Street
London
SW3 6NP
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University of Leicester
University/education

Research & Enterprise Division
Research Governance Office
University of Leicester
University Road
Leicester
LE1 7RH
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)116 373 6508
Email RGOsponsor@le.ac.uk
Website https://le.ac.uk/research/regi
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/04h699437

Funders

Funder type

Industry

AstraZeneca
Government organisation / For-profit companies (industry)
Alternative name(s)
AstraZeneca PLC, Pearl Therapeutics
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date31/08/2028
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryPublished as a supplement to the results publication
Publication and dissemination planA publication plan will be written by the Trial Management Group (TMG) and the Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) group during the study with the sponsor and funder approvals. It is envisaged that the results of the study will be published in newsletters and presented in public webinars for participants, lay media and the relevant peer-reviewed journals. Individual response tezepelumab will be provided by the local clinical teams to the participants as part of their standard of care.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated and/or analysed during this study will be included in the subsequent
results publication.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
HRA research summary 20/09/2023 No No

Editorial Notes

28/02/2025: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 31/12/2024 to 31/05/2025.
2. The overall end date was changed from 31/03/2026 to 31/08/2026.
3. The intention to publish date was changed from 31/03/2027 to 31/08/2028.
4. The plain English summary was updated to reflect these changes.
12/08/2024: The recruitment end date was changed from 31/08/2024 to 31/12/2024.
30/07/2024: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The secondary outcome measures were changed.
2. The sponsor address was changed.
19/01/2024: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The secondary outcome measures were changed.
2. The study participating centre Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was removed.
20/09/2023: A link to the HRA research summary was added.
11/08/2023: The following changes were made:
1. The recruitment start date was changed from 01/08/2023 to 31/08/2023.
2. The secondary outcome measures were changed.
3. Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was added and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and Oxford University Hospitals were removed as study participating centres.
05/06/2023: Internal review.
02/06/2023: Contact details updated.
18/05/2023: The intervention type was changed from drug to other.
11/05/2023: Study's existence confirmed by the East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee.