Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A 16-week Randomised, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Parallel-group Study Comparing the Efficacy and Safety of Tiotropium Inhalation Solution Delivered by the Respimat Inhaler (2 Actuations of 2.5 Mcg Once Daily) With That of Salmeterol From the Hydrofluoroalkane Metered Dose Inhaler (2 Actuations of 25 Mcg Twice Daily) in Moderate Persistent Asthma Patients With the B16-Arg/Arg Genotype
Brief Summary: This is a 16 week multicentre, multinational, randomised, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, parallel group study to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of tiotropium compared to salmeterol in moderate persistent asthmatic (GINA step 3) patients homozygous for arginine at the 16th amino acid position of the beta-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2). Following an initial 4-week run-in period on salmeterol MDI patients will be randomised into the 16 week double-blind treatment period in which they receive either tiotropium once daily administered from the Respimat inhaler or salmeterol twice daily administered from the hydrofluoro-alkane Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI), or placebo twice daily. After the 16 week treatment period all patients will receive salmeterol MDI twice daily for four weeks.

The patients perform daily morning and evening peak flow (PEF) and Forced Expiratory Volume in the First Second (FEV1) measurements with an electronic peak flow meter throughout the study. Daily data on asthma control and use of rescue medication are recorded using an electronic diary included in the electronic peak flow meter. On study visits the Mini-Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Elizabeth Juniper) is administered, pulse and blood pressure and pre-dose pulmonary function testing (FEV1 and Forced Vital Capacity) are performed.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Outpatient
* Subjects must be between the ages of 4 and 11 at Randomization
* Subjects must attend day-care, pre-school, elementary school, or middle school. Day-care attendance is defined as receiving childcare outside the home for at least 10 hours per week. Children who are home-schooled are not eligible for this study. Children on year round and traditional school calendars are eligible for this study.
* Subjects can be randomized into this study at any time between August 2nd, 2010 and August 20th, 2010.
* Males or pre-menarchal females.
* A diagnosis of asthma, as defined by the National Institutes of Health \[NIH, 2007\]
* At Visit 1 subjects must demonstrate a best clinic AM PEF ≥70% of the predicted value \[Polgar, 1971\].
* Each subject must have a history of an exacerbation of asthma between September 1st, 2009 and May 15th, 2010 that required a burst of outpatient systemic corticosteroids (oral or parenteral on \>1 days for worsening symptoms of asthma) or have had an urgent care, hospitalization, or ED visit for asthma during which they received oral/parenteral corticosteroids between September 1st, 2009 and May 15th, 2010.
* Subjects must have prior or current use of controller ICS medication as listed below:
* Subjects who have had prior use of a controller medication consisting of a low dose ICS at any time since September 1st, 2009 are eligible for inclusion in this study (refer to Table 1 for examples of allowed doses of commonly used ICS).
* Subjects currently taking a low dose ICS are eligible for inclusion in the study (refer to Table 1 for examples of allowed doses of commonly used ICS).
* Subjects' currently taking a moderate dose ICS are eligible for inclusion in the study if the subject's asthma has been controlled over the prior 3 months and the subject is a candidate for step down therapy, as defined by current asthma management guidelines \[NIH, 2007\].
* Subjects' currently taking low dose ICS in combination with a LABA are eligible for inclusion in the study if the subject's asthma has been controlled over the prior 3 months and the subject is a candidate for step down therapy, as defined by current asthma management guidelines \[NIH, 2007\].
* All subjects must be able to replace their short-acting beta2-agonists with study-issued albuterol inhalation aerosol at Visit 1 for use as needed for the duration of the study. If a subject demonstrates the inability to coordinate the use of an MDI alone, subjects are permitted to use an Aerochamber Plus spacer. The use or non-use of a spacer for albuterol inhalation aerosol should be consistent for each subject throughout the study. Subjects must be able to withhold inhaled albuterol for at least 6 hours prior to study Visits
* Chickenpox: Reported history of clinical varicella or varicella vaccine. If a subject needs varicella vaccine this will be arranged with a physician and must be received prior to randomization.
* Electronic Peak Flow Meter (ePEF)/Electronic Daily Diary (eDiary): A subject must be able to use the study-provided electronic peak flow meter and the subject/caregiver must be able to enter data using the electronic Diary record.
* Responsibilities of Consenting Parent/Legal Guardian: The subject's parent or legal guardian must commit to assist the subject at a consistent level with administration of investigational product and electronic Diary device and electronic PEF meter throughout the study.
* A subject must demonstrate adequate and appropriate technique for using the DISKUS™ device reliably.
* Fluency in English or USA Spanish: Subject and/or subject's parent/guardian must be able to read, comprehend, and record information in English or USA Spanish.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of Life Threatening Asthma
* Unstable Asthma
* Concomitant use of corticosteroid medication
* Other Concurrent Diseases/Abnormalities: The known presence of sinus, middle ear, oropharyngeal, upper or lower respiratory tract infections within 4 weeks immediately preceding randomization that required the use of an antibiotic or was accompanied by symptoms of worsening asthma.
* Concomitant Medications: Administration of any other prescription or over the counter medication which would significantly affect the course of asthma, such as omalizumab (Xolair), or interact with sympathomimetic amines, such as: anticonvulsants (barbiturates, hydantoins, carbamazepine), polycyclic antidepressants, beta-adrenergic blocking agents (both cardio-selective and non-selective), phenothiazines,
* Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP 3A4) Inhibitors: A subject is not eligible if he/she is receiving a strong CYP 3A4 inhibitor within 4 weeks of Visit 1 (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole).
* Immunosuppressive medications: A subject must not be using or require use of immunosuppressive medications (e.g. methotrexate, gold, cyclosporine, azathioprine) during the study.

Note: Immunotherapy for the treatment of allergies is allowed during the study provided it was initiated 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 and the subject remains in the maintenance phase for the duration of the study.

* Concurrent Respiratory Disease: A subject must not have current evidence of pneumonia, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pulmonary fibrotic disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, dyspnea by any cause other than asthma, or other respiratory abnormalities other than asthma.
* Other Concurrent Diseases/Abnormalities: Historical or current evidence of clinically significant uncontrolled disease that in the opinion of the investigator would put the safety of the subject at risk through study participation or would confound the interpretation of the results if the condition/disease exacerbated during the study.

The list of additional excluded conditions/diseases includes, but is not limited to the following:

Uncontrolled hypertension; Uncontrolled hematologic, hepatic, neurologic, or renal disease Uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux disease, Immunologic compromise, Cardiac arrhythmias, Tuberculosis (current or untreated), Congestive heart failure, Cushing's disease Coronary artery disease, Addison's disease, Current malignancy, Eosinophilic esophagitis Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, Uncontrolled thyroid disorder

* Severe Hypersensitivity to Milk Proteins: Any immediate hypersensitivity reaction, such as urticaria, angioedema, rash, and bronchospasm to milk proteins
* Drug Allergy: Any adverse reaction including immediate or delayed hypersensitivity to any beta2-agonist, sympathomimetic drug, or any intranasal, inhaled or systemic corticosteroid therapy. Known or suspected sensitivity to the constituents of the Dry Powder Inhaler (i.e., lactose).
* Tobacco Use: A history of or present use of any tobacco products.
* Investigational Medications: A subject must not have participated in a study (including a non-interventional study) or used any investigational drug (including devices) within 30 days prior to Visit 1 or within ten half-lives (t1/2) of the prior investigational study (whichever is longer of the two).
* Child in Care: A Child in Care (CiC) is a child who has been placed under the control or protection of an agency, organisation, institution or entity by the courts, the government or a government body, acting in accordance with powers conferred on them by law or regulation. The definition of a CiC can include a child cared for by foster parents or living in a care home or institution, provided that the arrangement falls within the definition above. The determination of whether a child meets the definition of CiC should be made with the study centre staff in consultation with the responsible IRB/Ethics Committee.
* Affiliation with Investigator's Site: A subject is an immediate family member of the participating investigator, sub investigator, study coordinator, or employee of the participating investigator.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* physician-diagnosed asthma
* age 6 or older
* pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume (FEV1) of at least 60% of predicted
* beta-agonist reversibility OR airways hyperreactivity by methacholine challenge
* Juniper Asthma Control Score of 1.5 or greater if not on daily controller
* good current health

Exclusion Criteria:

* current or past smoking (greater than 20 pack-years)
* chronic or current oral steroid therapy
* pregnancy, lack of effective contraception (when appropriate), lactation
C: Inclusion_Criteria:

1. Patients homozygous for arginine at the 16th amino acid position of the beta2 adrenergic receptor (B16 Arg/Arg)
2. All patients must sign and date an Informed Consent Form for the study prior to participation in the trial
3. Male or female outpatients with at least 18 years of age, but not older than 65 years
4. Patients must have a documented history of asthma
5. Patients must be current non-smokers or ex-smokers with a cigarette smoking history of \<10 pack-years
6. Patients must be on a maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids with a total daily dose of 400 - 1000 mcg budesonide or equivalent

Exclusion_Criteria:

1. Patients with a significant disease other than asthma
2. Patients with a recent history (i.e., six months or less) of myocardial infarction
3. Patients who have been hospitalized for heart failure (New York Heart Association class III or IV) within the past year
4. Patients with any unstable or life threatening cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention or a change in drug therapy within the past year
5. Patients with malignancy for which the patient has undergone resection, radiation therapy or chemotherapy within the last five years. Patients with treated basal cell carcinoma are allowed.
6. Patients with a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
7. Patients with a history of life threatening pulmonary obstruction, or a history of cystic fibrosis or clinically evident bronchiectasis
8. Patients with known active tuberculosis
9. Patients who have undergone thoracotomy with pulmonary resection.
10. Patients who have completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the six weeks prior to visit 1 or patients who are currently in a pulmonary rehabilitation program that will not be maintained throughout the duration of the study.
D: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Best pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of greater than 40% of their predicted normal value.
2. Patients must have a treatment regimen that includes a short-acting β2 agonist (SABA) (albuterol) for use as needed and either an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) or an ICS/long-acting β2 agonist (LABA) as a preventative treatment for a minimum of 8 weeks before the SV. Patients currently taking low-dose ICS without LABA are not eligible for this study. Patients currently taking low-dose ICS/LABA may only be entered into the mid ICS strength. All patients must have been maintained on a stable dose of ICS or ICS/LABA for 4 weeks prior to the SV (or pre-SV if necessary) at 1 qualifying doses
3. To meet reversibility of disease criteria, the patient must demonstrate a ≥12% reversibility of FEV1 (and 200 mL for patients aged18 years and older) within 30 minutes following 4 inhalations of albuterol at the SV. Historic reversibility within the past 12 months of the SV may be used to meet this criterion.
4. Written informed consent/assent is obtained. For adult patients (aged 18 years and older, or as applicable per local regulations), the written informed consent form (ICF) must be signed and dated by the patient before conducting any study-related procedure. For minor patients (aged 12 to 17 years, or as applicable per local regulations), the written ICF must be signed and dated by the parent/legal guardian and the written assent form must be signed and dated by the patient (if applicable) before conducting any study-related procedure. Note: Age requirements are as specified by local regulations.
5. Outpatient \>= 12 years of age on the date of consent/assent. .
6. Asthma diagnosis: The patient has a diagnosis of asthma as defined by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The asthma diagnosis has been present for a minimum of 3 months and has been stable (defined as no exacerbations and no changes in medication) for at least 30 days before providing informed consent.
7. The patient is able to perform acceptable and repeatable spirometry.
8. The patient is able to perform peak expiratory flow (PEF) with a handheld peak flow meter.
9. The patient is able to use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) device without a spacer device and a MDPI device.
10. The patient is able to withhold (as judged by the investigator) his or her regimen of ICS or study drug, and rescue medication for at least 6 hours before the SV and before all treatment visits where spirometry is performed.
11. The patient/parent/legal guardian/caregiver is capable of understanding the requirements, risks, and benefits of study participation, and, as judged by the investigator, capable of giving informed consent/assent and being compliant with all study requirements.
12. SABAs: All patients must be able to replace their current SABA with albuterol/salbutamol HFA inhalation aerosol at the SV for use as needed for the duration of the study.
13. Female patients may not be pregnant, breastfeeding, or attempting to become pregnant.

    * -Other criteria may apply, please contact the investigator for more information

Exclusion Criteria:

1. The patient has a history of a life-threatening asthma exacerbation that is defined for this protocol as an asthma episode that required intubation and/or was associated with hypercapnea, respiratory arrest, or hypoxic seizures.
2. The patient is pregnant or lactating, or plans to become pregnant during the study period or for 30 days after the study.
3. The patient has participated as a randomized patient in any investigational drug study within the 30 days preceding the SV (or prescreening visit, as applicable) or plans to participate in another investigational drug study at any time during this study.
4. The patient has previously participated in an Fp MDPI or FS MDPI study.
5. The patient has a known hypersensitivity to any corticosteroid, salmeterol, or any of the excipients in the study drug or rescue medication formulation (ie, lactose).
6. The patient has been treated with any known strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 inhibitors (eg, azole antifungals, ritonavir, or clarithromycin) within 30 days before the SV or plans to be treated with any strong CYP3A4 inhibitor during the study.
7. The patient has been treated with any of the prohibited medications during the prescribed (per protocol) washout periods before the SV.
8. The patient currently smokes or has a smoking history of 10 pack-years or more (a pack-year is defined as smoking 1 pack of cigarettes/day for 1 year). The patient may not have used tobacco products within the past year (eg, cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, or pipe tobacco).
9. The patient has a culture-documented or suspected bacterial or viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract, sinus, or middle ear that has not resolved at least 2 weeks before the SV.
10. The patient has a history of alcohol or drug abuse within 2 years preceding the SV.
11. The patient has had an asthma exacerbation requiring systemic corticosteroids within 30 days before the SV, or has had any hospitalization for asthma within 2 months before the SV.
12. Initiation or dose escalation of immunotherapy (administered by any route) is planned during the study period. However, patients who initiated immunotherapy 90 days or more before the SV and have been on a stable (maintenance) dose for 30 days or more before the SV may be considered for inclusion.
13. The patient has used immunosuppressive medications within 4 weeks before the SV.
14. The patient is unable to tolerate or unwilling to comply with the appropriate washout periods and withholding of all applicable medications. (Patients that require continuous treatment with β-blockers, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants, anticholinergics, and/or systemic corticosteroids are excluded).
15. The patient has untreated oral candidiasis at the SV. Patients with clinical visual evidence of oral candidiasis who agree to receive treatment and comply with appropriate medical monitoring may enter the study.
16. The patient has a history of a positive test for human immunodeficiency virus, active hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C infection.
17. The patient is either an employee or an immediate relative of an employee of the clinical investigational center.
18. A member of the patient's household is participating in the study at the same time. However, after the enrolled patient completes or discontinues participation in the study, another patient from the same household may be screened.
19. The patient has a disease/condition that in the medical judgment of the investigator would put the safety of the patient at risk through participation or that could affect the efficacy or safety analysis if the disease/condition worsened during the study.

    * Other criteria may apply, please contact the investigator for more information

Criteria for Randomization:

Patients were randomized into the study if they met all of the following criteria:

1. The patient continued to be in general good health, meeting the entry criteria.
2. The patient continued to have a predose/pre-albuterol FEV1 at the randomization visit (RV) that was ≥40% of predicted normal.
3. The patient had no clinically significant abnormal laboratory test results or ECG findings at the screening visit.
4. The patient had no significant changes in asthma medications during run-in, excluding the albuterol/salbutamol HFA (90 mcg ex actuator) or equivalent used as rescue medication as supplied per protocol.
5. The patient did not have a upper respiratory tract infection (URI) or lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) during the run in period. Patients who developed a URI or LRI during the run in period could be discontinued from the study and allowed to re-screen 2 weeks after resolution of symptoms.
6. The patient had no asthma exacerbation during the run in period, defined as any worsening of asthma requiring any significant treatment other than rescue albuterol/salbutamol HFA (90 mcg ex actuator) or equivalent or the patient's run-in MDPI. This included requiring the use of systemic corticosteroids and/or emergency department (ED) visit or hospitalization or an increase in the patient's regularly prescribed nonsteroidal maintenance treatment. Urgent care/ED visits where the treatment was limited to a single dose of nebulized albuterol/salbutamol did not meet the criteria of an asthma exacerbation.
7. The patient had no clinical visual evidence (on oropharyngeal examination) of oropharyngeal candidiasis.
8. The patient did not experience an adverse event that would result in failure to continue to meet selection criteria.
9. The patient did not use any of the prohibited concomitant medications during the run in period.
10. The patient complied with completion of the daily diary, defined as follows:

    * completion of AM and PM asthma symptom scores on 4 or more of the 7 days immediately preceding the RV.
    * completion of rescue medication use (whether used or not) on 4 or more of the 7 days immediately preceding the RV.
    * completion of AM peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements on 4 or more of the 7 days immediately preceding the RV.
    * recording of AM and PM asthma inhalation therapy use on 4 or more of the 7 days immediately preceding the RV.

Answer: C