Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: DOUBLE BLIND, MULTINATIONAL, MULTICENTRE, PARALLEL-GROUP DESIGN CLINICAL TRIAL OF THE EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY OF CHF 1535 (BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE 100 µg + FORMOTEROL 6 µg) pMDI VIA HFA-134a vs. FLUTICASONE 125 µg + SALMETEROL 25 µg pMDI (SERETIDE®) IN THE 12-WEEK TREATMENT OF ADULT PATIENTS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE PERSISTENT ASTHMA
Brief Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of the fixed combination beclomethasone/formoterol pMDI with that of fluticasone/salmeterol pMDI in patients with moderate to severe asthma


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe persistent asthma for at least 6 months, according to GINA revised version 2002 guidelines (11):

  * Forced expiratory volume (FEV1) or peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) ³ 50% and £ 80% of the predicted normal;
  * Asthma not adequately controlled with the current therapies, defined as presence of daily asthma symptoms \> once a week and night-time asthma symptoms \> twice a month, and daily use of short-acting β2-agonists. These findings are to be based on recent medical history and are to be confirmed in the 2-week run-in period.
* Treatment with inhaled corticosteroids at a daily dose ≤ 1000 μg of BDP or equivalent. The daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids taken at visit 1 will be assessed taking into account the following ratios between the doses of the different steroids: fluticasone propionate : BDP CFC = 1 : 2; budesonide : BDP CFC = 4 : 5; flunisolide : BDP CFC = 1 : 1. The ratios between inhaled steroids are irrespective of the formulations (i.e. spray aerosol or powder) used. When BDP is given in the new extra-fine HFA-134a formulation (as QVAR®, 3M Healthcare), the ratio with BDP CFC is set as 2 : 5. Therefore, the maximum allowed daily dose of inhaled corticosteroids at study entry will be: budesonide 800 μg, fluticasone propionate 500 μg, flunisolide 1000 μg, BDP 1000 mg, BDP HFA extra-fine 400 μg.
* Positive response to the reversibility test in the screening visit, defined as an increase of at least 12% (or, alternatively, of 200mL) from baseline value in the measurement of FEV1 30 minutes following 2 puffs (2 ´ 100 µg) of inhaled salbutamol administered via pMDI. The reversibility test can be avoided in patients having a documented positive response in the previous 6 months.
* A co-operative attitude and ability to be trained to correctly use the metered dose inhalers and to complete the diary cards.
* Written informed consent obtained.
* At the end of the 2-week run-in period, the presence of daily asthma symptoms (of at least mild intensity) and nighttime asthma symptom (of at least mild intensity) \> once a week, as well as of daily use of relief salbutamol is to be confirmed by reviewing the diary cards for run-in.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to carry out pulmonary function testing;
* Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as defined by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute/World Health Organisation (NHLBI/WHO) Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) guidelines (30);
* History of near fatal asthma;
* Evidence of severe asthma exacerbation or symptomatic infection of the airways in the previous 8 weeks;
* Three or more courses of oral corticosteroids or hospitalisation due to asthma during the previous 6 months;
* Patients treated with long-acting β2-agonists, anticholinergics and antihistamines during the previous 2 weeks, with topical or intranasal corticosteroids and leukotriene antagonists during the previous 4 weeks;
* Patients who have changed their dose of inhaled corticosteroids during the previous 4 weeks, or treatment with inhaled corticosteroids at a daily dose \> 1000 μg of BDP or equivalent (except for extra-fine formulations, see inclusion criteria);
* Current smokers or recent (less than one year) ex-smokers, defined as smoking at least 10 cigarettes/day;
* History or current evidence of heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, severe hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias;
* Diabetes mellitus;
* Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery by-pass graft (CABG) during the previous six months;
* Patients with an abnormal QTc interval value in the ECG test, defined as \> 450 msec in males or \> 470 msec in females;
* Other haemodynamic relevant rhythm disturbances (including atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation with ventricular response, bradycardia (≤ 55 bpm), evidence of atrial-ventricular (AV) block on ECG of more than 1st degree;
* Clinically significant or unstable concurrent diseases: uncontrolled hyperthyroidism, significant hepatic impairment, poorly controlled pulmonary (tuberculosis, active mycotic infection of the lung), gastrointestinal (e.g. active peptic ulcer), neurological or haematological autoimmune diseases;
* Cancer or any chronic diseases with prognosis \< 2 years;
* Pregnant or lactating females or females at risk of pregnancy, i.e. those not demonstrating adequate contraception (i.e. barrier methods, intrauterine devices, hormonal treatment or sterilization). A pregnancy test is to be carried out in women of a fertile age.
* History of alcohol or drug abuse;
* Patients treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors, tricyclic antidepressants or beta-blockers as regular use;
* Allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to study drugs and/or study drug formulation ingredients;
* Patients unlikely to comply with the protocol or unable to understand the nature, scope and possible consequences of the study;
* Patients who received any investigational new drug within the last 12 weeks;
* Patients who have been previously enrolled in this study;
* At the end of the run-in period, patients will not be admitted to the treatment period in the case of an increase of PEFR (L/sec) measured at the clinics at the end of the run-in period ³ 15% in respect of values measured at the start of the run-in period;
* Patients with asthma exacerbations during the run-in period will also be excluded from the study.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Persistent asthma for at least 1-year
* Must use a daily asthma controller medication for at least 4 weeks prior to randomization, including an inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) with or without a long-acting beta agonist (LABA) or other adjunctive asthma therapy OR be using a leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), xanthine or short acting beta agonist (SABA) as a monotherapy.
* Must be able to discontinue current asthma medication
* Must have a history of at least one asthma exacerbation in previous 4 to 52 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* Unstable asthma
* Taking high dose ICS with or without other adjunctive therapy who have an Asthma Control Questionnaire 6 (ACQ6) total score ≥ 1.5
* Taking LTRA, xanthine or SABA monotherapy with an ACQ-6 total score \< 1.5 (controlled)
* Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis (CF), or other significant, non-asthmatic, lung disease
* Clinically significant abnormality, illness or disorder of any body or organ system
* Significant underlying cardiovascular condition which may contraindicate use of a beta-agonist.
* History of smoking greater than 10-pack years
* Had an asthma exacerbation within 4 weeks of the Baseline Visit
* Had more than 4 asthma exacerbations or 2 hospitalizations within 52 weeks of the randomization visit
* Known or suspected hypersensitivity or intolerance to corticosteroids, beta-2 agonists, or any of the (inactive ingredients) excipients present in the medications used in this study
* Require the use of chronic systemic steroids, omalizumab, or other monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
* Requires the use of beta-blockers
* History of life-threatening asthma, including an asthma episode that required intubation and/or was associated with hypercapnia requiring noninvasive ventilatory support
* Lactating, pregnant, or plans to become pregnant during the course of the trial
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants must have a diagnosis of asthma for at least 12 months' duration.
* A participant must have been using a medium daily dose of inhaled glucocorticosteroids (alone or in combination with long-acting beta 2-agonist \[LABA\]) for at least 12 weeks and must have been on a stable regimen for at least 2 weeks prior to Screening.
* If there is no inherent harm in changing the participant's current asthma therapy, the participant must be willing to discontinue his/her prescribed inhaled glucocorticosteroid (ICS) or ICS/LABA prior to initiating MF MDI run-in medication.
* The diagnosis of asthma must be documented by either demonstrating an increase in absolute forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of at least 12% and a volume increase of at least 200 mL within approximately 15 to 20 minutes after administration of 4 inhalations of albuterol/salbutamol or of nebulized short-acting beta 2-agonist (SABA) OR peak expiratory flow (PEF) variability of more than 20% OR a diurnal variation PEF of more than 20% based on the difference between pre-bronchodilator (before taking albuterol/salbutamol) morning value and the post-bronchodilator value (after taking albuterol/salbutamol) from the evening before, expressed as a percentage of the mean daily PEF value on any day during the open-label Run-in Period.
* A participant must have a history of \>= 2 asthma-related unscheduled visits to a physician or to an emergency room within the past year AND \>= 3 asthma-related unscheduled visits within the past 2 years.
* Prior to randomization participants must have used a total of 12 or more inhalations of SABA rescue medication during the last 10 days of run-in.
* Clinical laboratory tests (complete blood counts \[CBC\], blood chemistries, including serum pregnancy for females of child-bearing potential, and urinalysis) conducted at the Screening Visit must be within normal limits or clinically acceptable to the investigator/sponsor before the participant is instructed to start using open-label MF MDI run-in medication.
* An electrocardiogram (ECG) performed at the Screening Visit, using a centralized trans-telephonic technology, must be clinically acceptable to the investigator.
* A chest x-ray performed at the Screening Visit, or within 12 months prior to the Screening Visit, must be clinically acceptable to the investigator.
* A non-pregnant female participant of childbearing potential must be using a medically acceptable, adequate form of birth control. A female participant of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test at Screening in order to be considered eligible for enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

* A participant who demonstrates a change in absolute FEV1 of \> 20% at any time between the Screening and Baseline Visits on any 2 consecutive days between the Screening and Baseline visits.
* A participant who requires the use of greater than 8 inhalations per day of SABA MDI or 2 or more nebulized treatments per day of 2.5 mg SABA on any 2 consecutive days between the Screening and Baseline Visits.
* A participant who experiences a decrease in AM or PM PEF below the Run-in Period stability limit on any 2 consecutive days prior to randomization. The average AM and average PM PEF respective values from the preceding 7 days are added, divided by the number of non-missing values, and multiplied by 0.70 to determine the stability limit.
* A participant who experiences a clinical asthma exacerbation: defined as a clinical deterioration of asthma as judged by the clinical investigator between the Screening and Baseline Visits, that results in emergency treatment, hospitalization due to asthma, or treatment with additional, excluded asthma medication (including oral or other systemic corticosteroids, but allowing SABA).
D: Inclusion Criteria:

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

Exclusion Criteria:

* Has required treatment with any non-inhaled corticosteroid within previous 30 days, sensitivity to drugs specified in the protocol, or requires treatment with a beta-blockers
* Had cancer within previous 5 years or currently has any other significant disease or disorder as judged by the investigator

Answer: A