Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Double Blind, Double Dummy, Randomised, Multicentre, Four Arm Parallel Group Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of FlutiForm® pMDI 250/10µg (2 Puffs Bid) vs Fluticasone pMDI 250µg (2 Puffs Bid) Plus Formoterol pMDI 12µg (2 Puffs Bid) Administered Concurrently in Adult Subjects With Severe Persistent, Reversible Asthma.
Brief Summary: The study compares the efficacy and safety of FlutiForm® vs Flixotide® plus Foradil® in the treatment of severe persisent asthma in adult subjects.


Options:
A: Inclusion criteria:

1. Male or female subjects at least 18 years old.
2. Females less than one year post-menopausal must have a negative urine pregnancy test recorded at the screening visit prior to the first dose of study medication, be non-lactating, and willing to use adequate and highly effective methods of contraception throughout the study. A highly effective method of birth control is defined as those which result in a low failure rate (i.e., less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly such as sterilisation, implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs (Intrauterine Device, hormonal), sexual abstinence or vasectomised partner.
3. Known history of severe persistent, reversible asthma for ≥ 6 months prior to the Screening Visit characterised by treatment with ICS at a dose of ≥ 500µg fluticasone or equivalent.
4. Demonstrated a FEV1 of ≥ 40% to ≤ 80% for predicted normal values (Quanjer et al., 1993) during the Screening Visit (Visit 1) and Randomisation Visit (Visit 3) following appropriate withholding of asthma medications (if applicable).

   * No β2-agonist use on day of screening.
   * No use of inhaled combination asthma therapy on day of screening.
   * Inhaled corticosteroids are allowed on day of screening.
5. Documented reversibility of ≥ 15% in FEV1 in the screening phase.
6. Demonstrated satisfactory technique in the use of the study medication.
7. Willing and able to enter information in the electronic diary and attend all study visits.
8. Willing and able to substitute study medication for their pre study prescribed asthma medication for the duration of the study.
9. Written informed consent obtained.

   Inclusion criteria required following run-in:
10. Subject has used rescue medication for at least 3 days AND had at least one night with sleep disturbance (i.e., sleep disturbance score of ≥ 1) OR at least 3 days with asthma symptoms (i.e., a symptom score of ≥ 1) during the last 7 days of the run-in period.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Near fatal or life-threatening (including intubation) asthma within the past year.
2. Hospitalisation or an emergency visit for asthma within the 4 weeks before the screening visit.
3. Known history of systemic (injectable or oral) corticosteroid medication within 1 month of the Screening Visit.
4. Known history of omalizumab use within the past 6 months.
5. Current evidence or known history of any clinically significant disease or abnormality including uncontrolled coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, or cardiac dysrhythmia. 'Clinically significant' is defined as any disease that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would put the subject at risk through study participation, or which would affect the outcome of the study.
6. In the investigator's opinion a clinically significant upper or lower respiratory infection within 4 weeks prior to the Screening Visit.
7. Significant, non-reversible, active pulmonary disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis).
8. Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive status.
9. Subject has a smoking history equivalent to "10 pack years" (i.e., at least 1 pack of 20 cigarettes /day for 10 years or 10 packs/day for 1 year, etc.).
10. Current smoking history within 12 months prior to the Screening Visit.
11. Current evidence or known history of alcohol and/or substance abuse within 12 months prior to the Screening Visit.
12. Subject has taken B-blocking agents, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, astemizole (Hismanal), quinidine type antiarrhythmics, or potent CYP 3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole within the past week.
13. Current use of medications other than those allowed in the protocol that will have an effect on bronchospasm and/or pulmonary function.
14. Current evidence or known history of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reaction to test medications or components.
15. Subject has recieved an investigational drug within 30 days of the Screening Visit (12 weeks if an oral or injectable steroid).
16. Subject is currently participating in a clinical study.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Able to perform reproducible spirometry according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria
* History of asthma symptoms (e.g., cough, wheezing, shortness of breath) and meets at least one of the following criteria:

  1. Naïve to controller therapy and meeting National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) criteria for mild-moderate persistent asthma (symptoms at least 2 days per week and/or night-time awakenings due to asthma at least 2 nights per month)
  2. Current uncontrolled asthma (meets NAEPP criteria for mild-moderate persistent asthma) while receiving an ICS dose greater than or equal to 200 ug per day of fluticasone equivalent or some form of non-ICS controller therapy (e.g., montelukast, theophylline, cromolyn)
  3. Asthma is currently under control while receiving an ICS dose between 300 to 400 ug per day of fluticasone equivalent and willing to consider changing current treatment to monotherapy with one dose of ICS (current standard of care)
  4. Asthma is currently under control while receiving some form of combination therapy, such as ICS less than or equal to 200 ug per day of fluticasone equivalent in addition to a non-ICS controller therapy (e.g., LABA, montelukast, theophylline, cromolyn), and willing to consider changing current treatment to monotherapy with one dose of ICS (current standard of care)
* FEV1 reversibility of at least 12% following bronchodilator administration (4 puffs) at study visit 1. Individuals will need to hold albuterol, montelukast, theophylline, ipratropium bromide (or other anticholinergics) and LABAs per study instructions prior to reversibility testing. If an individual is receiving these types of medications prior to study visit 1, he/she may be brought back to the clinical center within 1 week following appropriate medication withholding to attempt qualification by reversibility criteria. If the individual does not meet this requirement, they may qualify for enrollment if their PC20 methacholine FEV1 is less than or equal to 12.5 mg/ml at the time of randomization. If FEV1 is less than 70%, thus precluding the methacholine challenge at this visit, then completion of the visit will be postponed several days and an additional attempt to obtain a methacholine challenge test will be made. If the methacholine challenge still cannot be performed, an individual may still qualify by reversibility criteria at this visit.
* History of clinical varicella or varicella vaccine; individuals needing the vaccine may receive it from their primary care physician prior to study entry
* Ability of parent to provide informed consent; verbal assent must be obtained from children less than 7 years of age and written assent must be obtained from children between 7 and 18 years of age
* If female, willing to use an effective form of contraception

Prior to being randomly assigned to a treatment group, participants must meet the following criteria to remain in the study:

* Lack of acceptable asthma control during the 8-week screening period as defined by the following criteria:

  1) On average, on more than 2 days per week, one or all of the following:
  1. Diary-reported symptoms
  2. The use of inhaled bronchodilator (not including pre-exercise)
  3. Peak flows in the yellow zone (less than 80% of post bronchodilator PEF value obtained at study visit 1) OR
* On average, more than 1 night-time awakening due to asthma, during each 2-week period

Exclusion Criteria:

* Corticosteroid treatment for any condition prior to study entry within the following defined timepoints:

  1. Oral - Use within 2 weeks of the screening visit
  2. Injectable - Use within 2 weeks of the screening visit
  3. Nasal - May be used at any time during the study at the discretion of the study investigator or primary care physician
* Current or prior use of medications known to significantly interact with corticosteroid disposition (within a 2-week period of study visit 1), including but not limited to carbamazepine, erythromycin or other macrolide antibiotics, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifampin, or ketoconazole
* Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 less than 60% predicted at study visit 1
* More than three hospitalizations for asthma in the year prior to study entry
* Presence of chronic or active lung disease other than asthma
* Significant medical illness other than asthma, including thyroid disease, diabetes mellitus, Cushing's disease, Addison's disease, hepatic disease, or concurrent medical problems that could require oral corticosteroids during the study or would place the participant at increased risk while participating in the study
* History of cataracts, glaucoma, or any other medical disorder associated with an adverse effect to corticosteroids
* Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms not controlled by standard medical therapy
* History of significant asthma exacerbation within 2 weeks of study visit 1 or more than 5 courses of systemic corticosteroids in the year prior to study entry
* History of a life-threatening asthma exacerbation requiring intubation, mechanical ventilation, or resulting in a hypoxic seizure within the 5 years prior to study entry
* History of adverse reactions to ICS, LTRA, or LABA preparations or any of their ingredients
* Receiving hyposensitization therapy other than an established maintenance regimen (i.e., continuous regimen for at least 3 months prior to study entry)
* Pregnant or breastfeeding
* Inability to perform study procedures
* Refusal to consent to a genotype evaluation
* Inability of the child to ingest the study drug
* Cigarette smoking or smokeless tobacco use in the year prior to study entry
* Current participation or participation in the month prior to study entry in another investigational drug trial
* Evidence that the family may be unreliable or nonadherent, or may move from the clinical center area before study completion
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Diagnosis of asthma
* Baseline lung function tests as determined by protocol.
* Required and received treatment with inhaled corticosteroids and/or lung treatments specified in the protocol within timeframe and doses specified in protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe asthma
* Has required treatment with any non-inhaled corticosteroid within previous 4 weeks, has sensitivity to drugs specified in the protocol or requires treatment with beta-blockers
* Had cancer within previous 5 years or currently has any other significant disease or disorder as judged by the investigator
D: INCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Provision of informed consent prior to any study specific procedures. For patients under-age, signed informed consent from both the patient and the patient's parent/legal guardian is required 2. Male or Female, ≥12 years of age 3. Documented diagnosis of asthma for at least 6 months prior to Visit 1 4. Patients who are in need of Step 2 treatment according to Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines 5. Patients treated with 'as needed' inhaled short-acting bronchodilator(s) only should have pre-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) ≥ 60 % of Predicted Normal (PN) and post-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥ 80 % PN 6. Patients treated with low stable dose of inhaled corticosteroid or leukotriene antagonist in addition to 'as needed' use of inhaled short-acting bronchodilator(s) should have pre-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥80 % PN 7. Patients should have reversible airway obstruction 8. To be randomized patients must have used Bricanyl Turbuhaler 'as needed' on at least 3 separate days during the last week of the run in period. EXCLUSION CRITERIA 1. Patient has a history of life-threatening asthma including intubation and intensive care unit admission 2. Patient has had an asthma worsening requiring change in treatment other than inhaled short-acting bronchodilator(s) within 30 days prior to Visit 1 or between Visits 1 and 2; or a treatment other than Bricanyl Turbuhaler from Visit 2 until randomization 3. Patient has required treatment with oral, rectal or parenteral glucocorticosteroids (GCS) within 30 days and/or depot parenteral GCS within 12 weeks prior to Visit 1 4. Smoker (current or previous) with a smoking history of ≥ 10 pack years 5. Pregnancy, breast-feeding or planned pregnancy during the study.

Answer: A