Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Phase IIb, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Dosing Regimens of MEMP1972A in Adults With Allergic Asthma Who Are Inadequately Controlled on Inhaled Corticosteroids and a Second Controller (COSTA)
Brief Summary: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study will evaluate the efficacy and safety of 3 dosing regimens of MEMP1972A in patients with allergic asthma who remain inadequately controlled on chronic therapy with high dose inhaled corticosteroids and a second controller medication.Patients will be randomized to 4 Arms to receive subcutaneous repeating dose of either MEMP1972A 150 mg, 300 mg, or 450 mg, or placebo. Patients will continue their usual asthma medication throughout the study. Anticipated time on study treatment is 36 weeks, with a 48-week follow-up.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Capable of giving signed informed consent/assent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the consent form and in this protocol
* Twelve years of age or older, at the time of signing the informed consent/assent
* Subjects who have been diagnosed with HES for at least 6 months at randomization
* A history of two or more HES flares within the past 12 months prior to screening. Historical HES flares are defined as documented HES-related worsening of clinical symptoms or blood eosinophil counts requiring an escalation in therapy. At least one HES flare within the past 12 months must not be related to a decrease in HES therapy during the 4 weeks prior to the flare.
* Subjects must have blood eosinophil count \>=1000 cells/µL present in the sample collected during screening (within 4 weeks prior to randomization).
* Subjects must be on a stable dose of HES therapy for the 4 weeks prior to randomization. HES therapy includes but is not limited to oral corticosteroid, immunosuppressive, and cytotoxic therapy.
* Male or female. A female subject is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant, not lactating, and either non-reproductive potential or reproductive potential and agree to use a highly effective method to avoid pregnancy from 30 days prior to the first dose of study medication and until 4 months after the last dose of study treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Life-threatening HES or life-threatening HES co-morbidities: Imminently life-threatening HES disease severity such that the likelihood of death is high unless the course of the disease is interrupted within 12 weeks prior to randomization.
* Subjects who have known, pre-existing, clinically significant endocrine, autoimmune, metabolic, neurological, renal, gastrointestinal, hepatic, hematological, respiratory or any other system abnormalities that are not associated with HES and are uncontrolled with standard treatment.
* Eosinophilia of unknown clinical significance
* Twelve-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) finding: QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) \> 450 msec or QTc \> 480 msec in subjects with bundle branch block or an abnormal ECG finding from the 12-lead ECG conducted at Visit 1 if considered to be clinically significant and would impact the subject's participation during the study based on the evaluation of the Investigator.
* Subjects with documented history of any clinically significant cardiac damage prior to screening that, in the opinion of the investigator, would impact the subject's participation during the study.
* Liver abnormality/disease - Alanine transaminase (ALT) \>2.5x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ALT\>5xULN if documented HES with liver manifestations, or bilirubin \>1.5xULN (isolated bilirubin \>1.5xULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin \<35 percent), or current active liver or biliary disease (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones or otherwise stable chronic liver disease per investigator assessment). Stable chronic liver disease should generally be defined by the absence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia, oesophageal or gastric varices, or persistent jaundice, or cirrhosis.

NOTE: Chronic stable hepatitis B and C (e.g., presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or positive hepatitis C antibody test result at screening or within 3 months prior to first dose of study treatment) are acceptable if subject otherwise meets entry criteria.

* Clinical diagnosis of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA)
* Subjects with a history of or current lymphoma, or subjects with current malignancy or previous history of cancer in remission for less than 12 months prior to randomization. Subjects that had localized carcinoma (i.e., basal or squamous cell) of the skin which was resected for cure will not be excluded.
* FIP1 like 1-platelet derived growth factor receptor (FIP1L1-PDGFR) Status: Subjects who test positive for the FIP1L1-PDGFR fusion tyrosine kinase gene translocation.
* Subjects with chronic or ongoing active infections requiring systemic treatment, as well as subjects who have experienced clinically significant infections due to viruses, bacteria, and fungi within 4 weeks prior to randomization or subjects with a pre-existing helminthes infestation within 6 months prior to randomization
* Subjects with a known human immunodeficiency virus (e.g., HIV), other than that explained by the use of OCS or other therapy taken for HES.
* Other laboratory abnormalities: Evidence of clinically significant abnormality in the hematological, biochemical or urinalysis screen from the sample collected at screening, that could put the subject's safety at risk by participating in the study, as judged by the investigator
* Subjects who have previously received mepolizumab in the 4 months prior to randomization
* Subjects receiving intravenous or subcutaneous corticosteroids in the 4-week period prior to randomization or any other monoclonal antibodies within 30 days or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, of randomization
* Subjects who have received treatment with an investigational agent (biologic or non-biologic) within the past 30 days or 5 drug half-lives whichever is longer, prior to randomization or subjects who are currently participating in any other interventional clinical study
* Subjects who are not responsive to oral corticosteroid based on clinical response or blood eosinophil counts
* Subjects with any history of hypersensitivity to any monoclonal antibody (including mepolizumab) or any steroid or steroid-containing product
* Subjects with a known or suspected history of alcohol or substance abuse at screening which in the opinion of the investigator could interfere with the subject's proper completion of the protocol requirement.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Female and male patients aged 18 to 75 years inclusively at the time of Visit 1 with a history of physician-diagnosed asthma requiring treatment with medium-to-high dose Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) plus asthma controller, for at least 12 months prior to Visit 1.
2. Documented current treatment with high daily doses of ICS plus at least one other asthma controller for at least 3 months prior to Visit 1.
3. History of at least 2 asthma exacerbations while on ICS plus another asthma controller that required treatment with systemic corticosteroids (IM, IV, or oral) in the 12 months prior to Visit 1.
4. ACQ6 score ≥1.5 at Visit 1.
5. Screening pre-bronchodilator (pre-BD) FEV1 of \<80% predicted at Visit 2.
6. Excessive variability in lung function by satisfying ≥ 1 of the following criteria:

   1. Airway reversibility (FEV1 ≥12%) using a short-acting bronchodilator demonstrated at Visit 2 or Visit 3.
   2. Airway reversibility to short-acting bronchodilator (FEV1 ≥12%) documented during the 12 months prior to enrolment Visit 1.
   3. Daily diurnal peak flow variability of \>10% when averaged over 7 continuous days during the study run-in period
   4. An increase in FEV1 of ≥12% and 200 mL after a therapeutic trial of systemic corticosteroid (eg, OCS), given outside of an asthma exacerbation, documented in the 12 months prior enrolment Visit 1.
   5. Airway hyper-responsiveness (methacholine: PC20 of \<8 mg/mL, histamine: PD20 of \<7.8 μmol, mannitol: decrease in FEV1 as per the labelled product instructions) documented in the 24 months prior to randomization Visit 4.
7. Peripheral blood eosinophil count either:

   * 300 cells/μL assessed by central laboratory at either Visit 1 or Visit 2

OR

≥150 to \<300 cells/μL assessed by central laboratory at either Visit 1 or Visit 2, IF ≥1 of the following 5 clinical criteria (a to e) is met:

1. Using maintenance OCS (daily or every other day OCS requirement in order to maintain asthma control; maximum total daily dose 20 mg prednisone or equivalent) at screening
2. History of nasal polyposis
3. Age of asthma onset ≥18 years
4. Three or more documented exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroid treatment during the 12 months prior to screening
5. Pre-bronchodilator forced vital capacity \<65% of predicted, as assessed at Visit 2 (note that screening pre-BD FEV1 Inclusion Criterion #6 must still be satisfied)

For inclusion in the open label ANDHI IP sub study patients should meet the following criteria:

1. Patients study must have completed ANDHI EOT Visit 11.
2. Written informed consent must also be obtained prior to any study related procedures being performed in the open label ANDHI IP sub study.
3. Patients who have received any approved or investigational targeted biologic for the treatment of asthma (e.g. commercial mepolizumab, reslizumab, benralizumab) may be included if the last dose is ≥ 2 months of Visit 13.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Clinically important pulmonary disease other than asthma
2. Acute upper or lower respiratory infections within 30 days prior to the date informed consent.
3. 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.
4. History of alcohol or drug abuse within 12 months prior to the date informed consent is obtained.
5. A history of known immunodeficiency disorder.
6. Current smokers or former smokers with a smoking history of ≥10 pack years.
7. Previously received benralizumab (MEDI-563).
8. Receipt of any investigational medication as part of a research study within approximately 5 half-lives prior to randomization.
9. Receipt of immunoglobulin or blood products within 30 days prior to the date informed consent is obtained.
10. Receipt of live attenuated vaccines 30 days prior to the date of randomization; other types of vaccines are allowed.
11. Concurrent enrolment in another interventional or post-authorization safety study

Exclusion criteria for the open label ANDHI IP sub study:

Patients should not enter the open label ANDHI IP sub study if any of the following exclusion criteria are fulfilled. Each exclusion criterion should be reviewed in all potential participants, including those who transition directly from the double-blind period and those with a delay between completing the EOT Visit 11 and the first open label visit (Visit 13).

1. Patients who participated in the double-blind period but failed to complete the ANDHI EOT Visit 11. Patients who completed the ANDHI FU Visit 12 are not excluded from participation in the ANDHI IP sub study.
2. Unable to commit to the monthly visits as required by the protocol, or unable to commit to undergoing protocol guided reductions in asthma therapy, as directed by the Investigator.
3. Patients who experienced a severe or serious treatment-related AE during the double-blind period and, and those whom Investigator judges it is not in the patient's best interest to extend possible treatment with benralizumab.
4. Approved or off-label use of systemic immunosuppressive medications within 3 months prior to the first open label visit (Visit 13). These include but are not limited to small molecules such as methotrexate, cyclosporine, azathioprine, and immunosuppressive/immunomodulating biologics such as tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers. Regular use of systemic OCS is also excluded except for the indication of asthma.
5. Receipt of live attenuated vaccines 30 days prior to the first visit in the open label ANDHI IP sub study (Visit 13); other types of vaccines are allowed.
6. Planned surgical procedures during the conduct of the study.
7. Positive urine pregnancy test at Visit 13, or currently breastfeeding or lactating women.
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:

* Adult patients, 18 to 75 years of age inclusive
* Body weight \>/= 40 kg
* Physician's diagnosis of asthma for at least 12 months
* Evidence of documented bronchodilator reversibility as defined by protocol
* Prebronchodilator FEV1 \>/= 40% and \</= 80% predicted at Visit 1
* Required daily use of ICS and a second controller for a minimum of 3 consecutive months prior to Visit 1
* History of at least one protocol-defined asthma exacerbation in the 18 months prior to Visit 1
* Inadequately controlled asthma despite compliance with asthma controller therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Asthma exacerbation requiring systemic steroids in the 30 days prior to Visit 1
* Pre-existing active lung disease other than asthma
* Any infection
* Clinically significant medical disease that is uncontrolled despite treatment or is likely to require a change in therapy during study or is of unknown etiology
* Known immunodeficiency, including but not limited to HIV infection, regardless of treatment status
* Current substance abuse
* Former smoker with \>10 pack-year history or current smoker; former smokers must have stopped smoking more than 12 months prior to Visit 1
* History of anaphylaxis
* Pregnant and lactating women

Answer: D