Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: PONENTE: A Multicenter, Open-label, Phase 3b Efficacy and Safety Study of Benralizumab 30 mg Administered Subcutaneously to Reduce Oral Corticosteroid Use in Adult Patients With Severe Eosinophilic Asthma on High Dose Inhaled Corticosteroid Plus Long-acting β2 Agonist and Chronic Oral Corticosteroid Therapy
Brief Summary: This is a study designed to evaluate efficacy and safety of Benralizumab in reducing the Oral Corticosteroid (OCS) use in adult patients with severe asthma who are receiving OCS with or without additional asthma controller medications.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Age: At least 12 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent/assent (For those countries where local regulations permit enrolment of adults only, participant recruitment will be restricted to those who are \>=18 years of age)
* Inhaled Corticosteroid: A well-documented requirement for regular treatment with high dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) in the 12 months prior to Visit 1 with or without maintenance oral corticosteroids (OCS). For participants \>=18 years old: ICS dose must be \>=880 micrograms (mcg)/day fluticasone propionate (FP) (exactuator) or equivalent daily. For ICS/long-acting beta-2-agonist (LABA) combination preparations, the highest approved maintenance dose in the local country will meet this ICS criterion. For participants \>=12 to \<=17 years old: ICS dose must be \>=440 mcg/day FP (ex-actuator) or equivalent daily. For ICS/LABA combination preparations, the mid-strength approved maintenance dose in the local country will meet this ICS criterion
* Controller Medication: Current treatment with an additional controller medication, besides ICS, for at least 3 months or a documented failure in the past 12 months of an additional controller medication for at least 3 successive months (e.g. LABA, leukotriene receptor antagonist \[LTRA\], or theophylline)
* Eosinophilic asthma: Prior documentation of eosinophilic asthma or high likelihood of eosinophilic asthma as per Randomisation Criteria 1 and 2
* FEV1: Persistent airflow obstruction as indicated by : For participants \>=18 years of age at visit 1, a pre-bronchodilator FEV1 \<80% predicted (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey \[NHANES III\]) recorded at Visit 1. For participants 12-17 years of age at Visit 1: A pre-bronchodilator FEV1 \<90% predicted (NHANES III) recorded at Visit 1 OR FEV1:FVC ratio \<0.8 recorded at Visit 1
* Exacerbation history: Previously confirmed history of two or more exacerbations requiring treatment with systemic Corticosteroid (CS) (intramuscular, intravenous, or oral), in the 12 months prior to visit 1, despite the use of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). For participants receiving maintenance CS, the CS treatment for the exacerbations must have been a two-fold dose increase or greater.
* Gender: Male or Eligible Female. To be eligible for entry into the study, females of childbearing potential must commit to consistent and correct use of an acceptable method of birth control listed in the protocol for the duration of the trial and for 4 months after the last study drug administration.
* Informed Consent/Assent: Able to give written informed consent/assent prior to participation in the core study, which will include the ability to comply with the requirements and restrictions listed in the consent/assent form and in this protocol. Participants must be able to read, comprehend, and write at a level sufficient to complete study related materials. Written informed consent must be obtained from ALL patients/legally authorized representative(s); for patients 12-17 years old, written informed assent must be obtained in addition to the legally authorized representative(s)' consent.
* French participants: In France, a participant will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if either affiliated to or a beneficiary of a social security category.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Smoking history: Current smokers or former smokers with a smoking history of \>=10 pack years (number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day/20) x number of years smoked). A former smoker is defined as a participant who quit smoking at least 6 months prior to Visit 1.
* Concurrent Respiratory Disease: Presence of a known pre-existing, clinically important lung condition other than asthma. This includes current infection, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, or diagnoses of emphysema or chronic bronchitis (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease other than asthma) or a history of lung cancer.
* Malignancy: A current malignancy or previous history of cancer in remission for less than 12 months prior to screening (Participants that had localized carcinoma of the skin which was resected for cure will not be excluded).
* Liver Disease: Known, pre-existing, unstable liver disease (as defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia, esophageal or gastric varices or persistent jaundice), cirrhosis, and known biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones).
* Cardiovascular: Participants who have severe or clinically significant cardiovascular disease uncontrolled with standard treatment. Including but not limited to: (a) known ejection fraction of \<30% OR (b) severe heart failure meeting New York Heart Association Class IV classification OR (c) hospitalised in the 12 months prior to Visit 1 for severe heart failure meeting New York Heart Association Class III OR (d) angina diagnosed less than 3 months prior to Visit 1 or at Visit 1.
* Other Concurrent Medical Conditions: Participants who have known, pre-existing, clinically significant endocrine, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, hepatic, haematological or any other system abnormalities that are uncontrolled with standard treatment.
* Eosinophilic Diseases: Participants with other conditions that could lead to elevated eosinophils such as Hypereosinophilic Syndromes, including Churg-Strauss Syndrome (Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis \[EGPA\]), or Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Participants with a known, pre-existing parasitic infestation within 6 months prior to Visit 1 are also to be excluded.
* Electrocardiogram (ECG) Assessment: QT interval corrected for heart rate by Fridericia's formula (QTc(F)) \>=450 milliseconds (msec) or QTc(F) \>=480 msec for participants with Bundle Branch Block at Visit 1.
* Alcohol/Substance Abuse: A history (or suspected history) of alcohol misuse or substance abuse within 2 years prior to Visit 1.
* Immunodeficiency: A known immunodeficiency (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus \[HIV\]), other than that explained by the use of corticosteroids taken as therapy for asthma.
* Xolair: Participants who have received omalizumab (Xolair) within 130 days of Visit 1.
* Other Monoclonal Antibodies: Participants who have received any monoclonal antibody (other than Xolair) to treat inflammatory disease within 5 half-lives of Visit 1.
* Investigational Medications: Participants who have received treatment with an investigational drug within the past 30 days or five terminal phase half-lives of the drug whichever is longer, prior to Visit 1 (this also includes investigational formulations of marketed products).
* Hypersensitivity: Participants with allergy/intolerance to a monoclonal antibody or biologic.
* Pregnancy: Participants who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients should not be enrolled if they plan to become pregnant during the time of study participation. A urine pregnancy test is required of all women of child bearing potential. This test will be performed at the time points specified in the Time and Events Schedule in protocol.
* Adherence: Participants who have known evidence of lack of adherence to controller medications and/or ability to follow physician's recommendations.
* Previous participation: Previously participated in any study with mepolizumab and received investigational product (including placebo)
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Informed Consent: Prior to commencing any study related activities, subjects must be able and willing to provide written informed consent.
* Male or Eligible Female Subjects: To be eligible for the study, females of child-bearing potential must commit to consistent and correct use of an acceptable method of birth control and for 4 months after the last study drug administration. A urine pregnancy test is required of all females of childbearing potential at the initial Baseline Visit (Visit 1).
* French Subjects Only: In France, a subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if either affiliated to or a beneficiary of a social security category.
* MEA115661 Participation: Subjects must have completed Visit 14 of MEA115661.
* Current Anti-Asthma Therapy: The subject's asthma has been treated with an ICS controller medication for the last 8 months with fluticasone propionate (FP) \>=500 mcg/day (or equivalent).
* Disease Severity: Subjects must be assessed as having life-threatening /serious debilitating asthma in order to enroll, as defined by the following: Subjects enrolled in MEA115588 must meet one of the following criteria: a) Subject has a history of at least one intubation during their lifetime; b) \>=3 asthma exacerbations in the 12 months prior to screening for MEA115588; c) \>=1 or more hospitalization for asthma exacerbation in the 12 months prior to screening for MEA115588. Subjects enrolled in MEA115575 must meet one of the following criteria: d) Subject has a history of at least one intubation during their lifetime; e) Their optimized dose at randomization in MEA115575 was \>=10mg of prednisone; f) \>=1 or more hospitalization for asthma exacerbation in the 12 months prior to screening for MEA115575.
* Clinical Benefit: Subjects must have experienced documented clinical benefit to enroll. Subjects must meet the following criteria demonstrating clinical benefit: Subjects enrolled in MEA115588 who received mepolizumab must meet all of the following criteria: a) Subject must have had a reduction in their exacerbation frequency by \>=50% during MEA115588. The baseline for comparison is the total number of exacerbations reported in the 12 months prior to screening for MEA115588. b) The investigator response on the "Clinician-Rated Response to Therapy" questionnaire at Visit 10 was either: mildly improved, moderately improved or significantly improved. Subjects enrolled in MEA115588 who received placebo must meet all of the following criteria: c) Subject must have had a reduction in their exacerbation frequency by \>=50% during the first 8 months of MEA115661. The baseline for comparison is the total number of exacerbations reported in the 12 months prior to screening for MEA115588; d) The investigator confirms that the subject demonstrated improvement during MEA115661. Subjects enrolled in MEA115575 who received mepolizumab must meet all of the following criteria: e) Subject must have reduced their oral corticosteroid dose by \>=50% during MEA115575. The baseline for comparison is the subject's optimized oral corticosteroid (OCS) dose at randomization in MEA115575; f) The investigator response on the "Clinician-Rated Response to Therapy" questionnaire at Visit 9 was either: mildly improved, moderately improved or significantly improved. Subjects enrolled in MEA115575 who received placebo must meet all of the following criteria: g) Subject must have reduced their oral corticosteroid dose at randomization by \>=50% in the first 6 months of MEA115661. The baseline for comparison is the subject's optimized OCS dose at randomization in MEA115575; h) The investigator confirms that the subject demonstrated improvement during MEA115661.

Exclusion Criteria

* Health Status: Clinically significant change in health status during MEA115661 which in the opinion of the investigator would make the subject unsuitable for participation in this long-term study.
* Pregnancy: Subjects who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Subjects should not be enrolled if they plan to become pregnanDeart during the time of study participation.
* Exacerbation History: Subjects who received placebo in MEA115588 and had NO exacerbations during the study.
* Oral Corticosteroid Use: Subjects who received placebo in MEA115575 and were able to discontinue oral corticosteroid therapy by the end of the study.
* Smoking Status: Current smokers
* Previous Significant Protocol Deviation: Subjects who were excluded from the per protocol analysis due to significant protocol deviations in either study MEA115575 or MEA115588.
* Electrocardiogram (ECG) Assessment: A clinically significant ECG abnormality at the exit visit of MEA115661, as determined by the investigator.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Peripheral blood eosinophil count of ≥150 cells/μL assessed by central lab at Visit 1 or ≥ 300 cells/μL in the past 12 months
2. History of physician diagnosed asthma requiring continuous treatment with high dose ICS (high-dose ICS is budesonide/formoterol HFA ≥640/18 per day or equivalent, fluticasone propionate DPI \> 500/day or equivalent, or authorized generics for these products) plus LABA for at least 6 months prior to Visit 1. The ICS and LABA can be contained within a combination product or given by separate inhalers. The ICS can also be given via nebulized solution for inhalation.
3. Chronic oral corticosteroid therapy equivalent to a daily dose of at least 5 mg of prednisone, for at least 3 continuous months directly preceding Visit 1.
4. Patient should be on a stable OCS dose for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.
5. Non-smokers, current smokers or former smokers with a smoking history of \< or =20 pack-years at Visit 1

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Clinically important pulmonary disease other than asthma or ever been diagnosed with pulmonary or systemic disease, other than asthma, that are associated with elevated peripheral eosinophil counts
2. Known history of allergy or reaction to the study drug formulation
3. History of anaphylaxis to any biologic therapy
4. A helminth parasitic infection diagnosed within 24 weeks prior to the date informed consent is obtained that has not been treated with, or has failed to respond to, standard of care therapy
5. Asthma exacerbation requiring use of systemic corticosteroids, or an increase in maintenance dose of OCS, or acute upper/lower respiratory infections requiring antibiotics or antiviral medication within 30 days prior to Visit 2 (first benralizumab dose)
6. A history of known immunodeficiency disorder including history of a positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) test
7. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level ≥3 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) confirmed at Visit 1.
8. Receipt of immunoglobulin or blood products within 30 days prior to the date informed consent is obtained
9. Coincident primary adrenal failure (Addison's disease) or irreversible secondary hypoadrenalism due to another independent cause (e.g. pituitary tumour or its treatment)
10. Co-existent inflammatory conditions for which chronic OCS doses are part of their maintenance treatment such as Giant Cell Arteritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica
11. Exclusion from genetic research may be for any of the exclusion criteria specified in the main study or allogeneic bone marrow transplant, Non-leukocyte depleted whole blood transfusion within 120 days of genetic sample collection
12. Current night-shift workers
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female
* Aged 12 to 65 years inclusive
* Minimum weight 45kg
* Clinical features of severe refractory asthma
* Well documented requirement for high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) \[i.e. \>= 880mcg/day fluticasone propionate or equivalent daily\] for at least 12 months
* Using additional controller medication in addition to high dose ICS for at least 12 months
* Persistent airflow obstruction indicated by a pre-bronchodilator FEV1\<80% predicted at visit 1 or 2 or peak flow diurnal variability of \>20% on 3 or more days during the run-in
* Airway inflammation which is likely to be eosinophilic in nature demonstrated by either raised peripheral blood eosinophils (\>=300/microL), sputum eosinophils (\>=3%), exhaled nitric oxide (\>=50ppb) or prompt deterioration of asthma control following a \<=25% reduction in regular maintenance dose of inhaled or oral corticosteroids (OCS)
* History of 2 or more exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids in the previous 12 months
* Evidence of asthma documented by airway reversibility, airway hyperresponsiveness or airflow variability
* ECG assessment demonstrating QTc\<450msec or QTc\<480msec for patients with bundle branch block
* Liver function tests demonstrating ALT\<2xUpper Limit of Normal (ULN), AST\<2xULN, Alk Phos \<=1.5xULN, bilirubin \<=1.5xULN
* Female of non-child-bearing potential or child-bearing potential with a negative pregnancy test at screening and prepared to agree to an acceptable method of contraception
* Able to give written informed consent
* Able to read, comprehend and write at a sufficient level to complete study materials

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current smokers or smoking history of \>=10 pack years
* Clinically important lung condition other than asthma
* Diagnosis of malignancy or in the process of investigation
* Unstable liver disease
* Churg-Strauss syndrome
* Using methotrexate, troleandomycin, oral gold, cyclosporine, azathioprine or any experimental anti-inflammatory therapy within 3 months of screening
* Omalizumab (Xolair) or any other biological for the treatment of inflammatory disease within 6 months of Visit 1
* Regular use of oral or systemic corticosteroids for diseases other than asthma within 12 months or any intra-articular, short-acting intramuscular corticosteroid within 1 month or intramuscular, long-acting depot corticosteroid within 3 months
* Allergy/intolerance to the excipients in the mepolizumab formulation
* Any investigational drug within 30 days or 5 terminal half-lives, whichever is longer
* Pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant
* Clinically significant disease which is uncontrolled with standard treatment
* History of alcohol misuse or substance abuse
* Parasitic infestation within previous 6 months
* Known immunodeficiency
* Unable to follow instructions, use the electronic diary or peak flow meter
* Known evidence of lack of adherence to controller medications and/or follow physician's recommendations
* Previous participation in a study of mepolizumab and received study medication within 90 days

Answer: C