Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A 6-month Safety and Benefit Study of Inhaled Fluticasone Propionate/ Salmeterol Combination Versus Inhaled Fluticasone Propionate in the Treatment of 6,200 Pediatric Subjects 4-11 Years Old With Persistent Asthma
Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to assess whether the risk of serious asthma-related events (asthma-related hospitalizations, endotracheal intubations, and deaths) in children 4-11 years old taking inhaled fluticasone propionate/salmeterol combination is the same as those taking inhaled fluticasone propionate alone.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects eligible for enrollment in the study must meet all of the following criteria:

* Type of Subject: Outpatient
* Age: 12 years of age or older at Visit 1. For sites in the following countries, subjects recruited will be ≥18 years of age: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, New Zealand, Russian Federation, Turkey and any other countries where local regulations or the regulatory status of study medication permit enrollment of adults only.
* 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, as defined by the following:
* Male partner who is sterile prior to the female subject's entry into the study and is the sole sexual partner for that female subject
* Implants of levonorgestrel
* Injectable progestogen
* Oral contraceptive (either combined estrogen/progestin or progestin only)
* Any intrauterine device (IUD) with a documented failure rate of less than 1% per year.
* Females of childbearing potential who are not sexually active must commit to complete abstinence from intercourse throughout the clinical trial and for a period after the trial to account for elimination of the drug (minimum of six days).
* Double barrier method - spermicide plus a mechanical barrier (e.g., spermicide plus a male condom or a spermicide and female diaphragm).
* NB: For German sites, female subjects must use a method of birth control other than the double barrier method.
* The contraceptive transdermal patch, Ortho Evra (if the subject is less than 198 pounds)
* Female subjects should not be enrolled if they are pregnant, lactating or plan to become pregnant during the time of study participation. A serum pregnancy test is required of all females. This test will be performed at the initial screening visit (Visit 1) and Visit 8. In addition, a urine pregnancy test will be performed on the evening of the double-blind treatment visit, prior to randomization (Visit 3) and at Visits 4 through 7.
* Asthma Diagnosis: Asthma as defined by the National Institutes of Health \[National Institutes of Health, 2007\].
* Severity of Disease: A best FEV1 of 40%-85% of the predicted normal value during the morning Visit 1 screening period or a best FEV1 of 40%-90% of the predicted normal value during the evening Visit 1 screening period.
* Reversibility of Disease: Demonstrated a ≥ 12% and ≥200mL reversibility of FEV1 within approximately 30-minutes following 4 inhalations of albuterol/salbutamol inhalation aerosol (spacers are permitted for reversibility testing if required) or one nebulized albuterol/salbutamol solution at the screening period. Re-screening of subjects during the Visit 1 screening period: If a subject does not meet the inclusion criteria based upon FEV1 percent predicted and/or reversibility, the subject may return to the site once within 4 days and repeat the lung function tests.
* Current Anti-Asthma Therapy: Subjects must have been using a non-corticosteroid controller or short acting beta2-agonist bronchodilators alone (with no inhaled corticosteroids use for at least 6 weeks) for ≥ 3 months preceding Visit 1.
* Short- Acting Beta2-Agonists: All subjects must be able to replace their current short-acting beta2-agonists with albuterol/salbutamol inhalation aerosol at Visit 1 for use as needed for the duration of the study. The use of spacer devices with metered dose inhaler (MDI) or nebulized albuterol/salbutamol will not be allowed during the study with the exception of their use during reversibility testing at Visit 1. Subjects must be able to withhold all inhaled short-acting beta sympathomimetic bronchodilators for at least 6 hours prior to all study visits.
* Informed Consent: All subjects must be able and willing to give written informed consent to take part in the study.
* Compliance: Subjects must be able to comply with completion of the Daily Diary (includes paper medical conditions diary).
* French subjects: 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.

Inclusion Criteria for Randomization

At the end of the run-in period, a subject will be eligible to enter the treatment period of the study if he/she meets the following criteria at Visit 3:

* Evening pre-dose percent predicted FEV1 of between 40% and 90% of their predicted normal.
* Any combination of the daily asthma symptom scores (day-time plus night-time) of ≥1 or albuterol/salbutamol use on at least 4 of the last 7 consecutive days of the run-in period (immediately preceding Visit 3).

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of Life-threatening asthma: Defined for this protocol as an asthma episode that required intubation and/or was associated with hypercapnia, respiratory arrest or hypoxic seizures.
* Respiratory Infection: Culture-documented or suspected bacterial or viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract, sinus or middle ear that is not resolved within 4 weeks before Visit 1 and led to a change in asthma management, or in the opinion of the Investigator is expected to affect the subjects asthma status or the subjects ability to participate in the study.
* Asthma Exacerbation: Any asthma exacerbation requiring oral corticosteroids within 3 months of Visit 1. A subject must not have had any hospitalization for asthma within 6 months prior to Visit 1.
* Concurrent Diseases/Abnormalities: Historical or current evidence of clinically significant uncontrolled disease including, but not limited to: cardiovascular disease, hepatic disease, renal disease, hematological disease, neurological disease, or pulmonary disease (including, but not confined to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis with the need of treatment, cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). Significant is defined as any disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the safety of the subject at risk through participation, or which would affect the efficacy or safety analysis if the disease/condition exacerbated during the study. The list of additional excluded conditions/diseases includes, but is not limited to the following: congestive heart failure, clinically significant coronary heart disease, stroke within 3 months of Visit 1, poorly controlled peptic ulcer, immunologic compromise, tuberculosis (current or untreated), Addison's disease, uncontrolled thyroid disorder, known aortic aneurysm, clinically significant cardiac arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension1, hematological, hepatic, or renal disease, current malignancy2, cushings disease, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, recent history of drug or alcohol abuse.
* systolic blood pressure ≥160, or diastolic blood pressure \>100
* history of malignancy is acceptable only if subject has been in remission for one year prior to Visit 1 (remission = no current evidence of malignancy and no treatment for the malignancy in the 12 months prior to Visit 1)
* Patients with a history of tuberculosis who have received an approved prophylactic treatment regimen or an approved active treatment regimen and who have had no evidence of active disease for a minimum of 2 years may be enrolled \[American Thoracic Society, 2003; American Thoracic Society, 2005\]"
* Oropharyngeal Examination: A subject will not be eligible for the run-in if he/she has clinical visual evidence of oral candidiasis at Visit 1.
* Investigational Medications: A subject must not have participated in a study or used any investigational drug within 30 days prior to Visit 1.
* 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 novel dry powder inhaler or DISKUS/ACCUHALER (i.e., lactose or magnesium stearate).
* Milk Protein Allergy: History of severe milk protein allergy.
* Immunosuppressive Medications: A subject must not be using, or require use, of immunosuppressive medications during the study.

NOTE: Immunotherapy for the treatment of allergies is allowed during the study provided that the treatment was initiated prior to Visit 1 and the subject is maintained on a stable regimen throughout the study period.

* Attendance: A subject will not be eligible if he/she or his/her parent or legal guardian has any infirmity, disability, or geographical location which seems likely (in the opinion of the Investigator) to impair compliance with any aspect of this study protocol or scheduled visits to the study center and non-compliant with study medication or procedures (e.g. completion of daily diary). Neurological or psychiatric disease or history of drug or alcohol abuse which in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with the subject's proper completion of the protocol requirements excludes study participation.
* Tobacco Use : Current smoker or a smoking history of 10 pack years or more (e.g. 20 cigarettes/day for 10 years). A subject may not have used tobacco products within the past one year (i.e., cigarettes, cigars, or pipe tobacco).
* Affiliation with Investigator's Site: A subject will not be eligible for this study if he/she is an immediate family member of the participating Investigator, sub-Investigator, study coordinator, or employee of the participating Investigator.
* Corticosteroid Use: Administration of systemic, oral or depot corticosteroids within 12 weeks of Visit 1.

Administration of inhaled corticosteroids within 6 weeks of Visit 1.

* Potent Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors: Patients who are receiving potent CYP3A4 inhibitors within 4 weeks of Visit 1 (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole).

Exclusion Criteria for Randomization At the end of the run-in period, a subject will not be eligible to enter the treatment period of the study if they meet any of the following criteria.

* Clinical Laboratory Abnormalities: Clinically significant abnormal laboratory tests during Visit 1 which are still abnormal upon repeat analysis and are not believed to be due to disease(s) present. Each Investigator will use his/her own discretion in determining the clinical significance of the abnormality. When in doubt, GlaxoSmithKline, or designee, should be notified so that a joint decision can be made.
* Changes in asthma medication (excluding albuterol/salbutamol inhalation aerosol provided at Visit 1).
* Occurrence of an culture-documented or suspected bacterial or viral infection of the upper or lower respiratory tract, sinus or middle ear during the run-in period that led to a change in asthma management, or in the opinion of the Investigator is expected to affect the subject's asthma status or the subject's ability to participate in the study.
* Asthma exacerbation, defined as any worsening of asthma requiring any treatment other than rescue albuterol/salbutamol or regular inhaled corticosteroid use. This includes requiring the use of systemic corticosteroids and / or emergency room visit or hospitalization or a change in subject's regular inhaled corticosteroid dose.
* A subject will not be eligible for randomization if he/she has an abnormal visual oropharyngeal exam at the randomization Visit 3 (visual clinical evidence of oral candidiasis).
* Non-compliance with completion of the Daily Diary, defined as: - Completion of AM and PM symptom scores on less than 4 days out of the last 7 days immediately preceding Visit 3.
* Completion of AM and PM rescue use on less than 4 days out of the last 7 days immediately preceding Visit 3.
* Completion of AM and PM PEF measurements on less than 4 days out of the last 7 days immediately preceding Visit 3.
* Recording run-in asthma medication use on less than 4 days out of the last 7 days immediately preceding Visit 3.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Consent to participate in the study
2. Age 4-11 years old
3. Male or eligible female - Female subjects should not be enrolled if they are pregnant, lactating or plan to become pregnant during the time of study participation
4. Asthma diagnosis for at least 6 months
5. Ability to answer questions regarding asthma control and use a metered dose inhaler and DISKUS
6. A history of clinical varicella infection or recipient of a varicella vaccine in countries where the product label includes a warning regarding more serious chickenpox infections in patients using corticosteroids.
7. History of at least once occurrence of asthma exacerbation within the prior 12 months
8. Currently being treated for asthma and no change in asthma therapy for the last 4 weeks (Eligible subjects include: subjects with use of short-acting beta-agonist, leukotriene receptor antagonist, theophylline, or cromolyn whose asthma is not well-controlled; subjects on low-dose ICS monotherapy whose asthma is not well-controlled; subjects on low-dose ICS and one or more adjunctive therapy whose asthma is either controlled or not well-controlled asthma; subjects on medium-dose ICS monotherapy whose asthma is either controlled or not well-controlled; and subjects on medium-dose ICS and one or more adjunctive therapy whose asthma is well-controlled)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of life-threatening asthma
2. Unstable asthma
3. Current use of high-dose ICS or ICS/LABA therapy to treat asthma symptoms
4. Concurrent respiratory disease: Current evidence of pneumonia, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pulmonary fibrotic disease, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, cystic fibrosis, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, or other severe respiratory abnormalities other than asthma.
5. Respiratory infection
6. Subjects with only exercise-induced asthma
7. An asthma exacerbation within the last 4 weeks or more than 4 separate exacerbations in the last 12 months
8. Hospitalization for asthma within 4 weeks or more than 2 hospitalizations within the last 12 months
9. Other current evidence of clinically significant uncontrolled disease/conditions of any body or organ system
10. Neurological or psychiatric disease or history of drug or alcohol abuse of a subject or his/her guardian which in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with the subject's proper completion of the protocol requirements
11. Participation in an interventional study or used any investigational drug for any disease state within the last 30 days
12. Any adverse reaction including immediate or delayed hypersensitivity to any beta-agonist, sympathomimetic drug, or any intranasal, inhaled, or systemic corticosteroid therapy, or vehicle contained within these medication
13. Severe hypersensitivity to cow's milk proteins
14. Administration of prescription or over the counter medications that would significantly affect the course of asthma, or interact with sympathomimetic amines such as: anti-IgE (omalizumab), anticonvulsants (barbiturates, hydantoins, carbamazepine); polycyclic antidepressants, beta-adrenergic blockers; phenothiazines, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, or diuretics
15. Potent cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitors within the last 4 weeks (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconzole)
16. Affiliation with investigator's site, including a immediate family member of the participating investigator, sub-investigator, study coordinator, or employee of the participating investigator.
17. 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.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent
* Outpatient (sub-group will have 3 overnight stays at clinic)
* Diagnosis of asthma (NIH 2007) for at least 6 months
* Male or Eligible female (females of child-bearing potential must use acceptable method of birth control)
* A best AM pre-bronchodilator FEV1 of 60% to 85% of predicted normal value at Screening
* Reversibility of disease demonstrated by at least 12% and 200mL increase in FEV1 .
* Subjects must have been prescribed a non-corticosteroid controller at least 3 months preceding Visit 1, and/or a short-acting beta 2 agonist, without the use of inhaled corticosteroids in the 4 weeks prior to Visit 1
* Subjects must be able to replace their current short-acting Beta-2-agonist with albuterol/salbutamol aerosol inhaler for the duration of the study
* Subjects must be judged capable of withholding albuterol/salbutamol for at least 4 hours prior to study visits

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of life threatening asthma
* Severe asthma exacerbation
* Respiratory infection within expected to affect subject's ability to participate
* Concurrent respiratory disease
* Current smoker or smoking history of 10 pack years or more
* Diseases preventing use of anticholinergics
* Other clinically significant, uncontrolled condition or disease which would pose a safety risk to the patient, or confound interpretation of study results
* Drug allergy to any Beta-2-agonist, sympathomimetic drug, intranasal, inhaled or systemic corticosteroid therapy
* Known or suspected sensitivity to the constituents of the Novel DPI (ie lactose)
* History of severe milk protein allergy
* Administration of prescription or over-the-counter medication that would significantly affect the course of asthma, or interact with the study drug
* Any infirmity, disability or disease of a child or family member likely to impair compliance
* Alcohol or substance abuse history
* Viral hepatitis B surface antigen or Hepatitis C antibody
* Known HIV-positive history.
* Affiliation with investigator or site staff
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: B