Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: Prospective, Randomised, Open-label, Multicentre, Active Drug Controlled, Parallel Group Design Clinical Trial of the Efficacy and Safety of Beclomethasone Dipropionate 400 mcg + Formoterol 24 mcg pMDI Via HFA-134a (Foster™) vs. Fluticasone Propionate 500 mcg + Salmeterol Xinafoate 100 mcg DPI (Seretide Diskus®) in the 6 Months Stepdown Treatment of Adult Patients With Controlled Asthma
Brief Summary: Asthma is a serious global health problem. People of all ages in countries throughout the world are affected by this chronic airway disorder that can be severe and sometimes fatal. The prevalence of asthma is increasing everywhere, especially among children.According to international guidelines, once control of asthma is achieved and maintained for at least 3 months, a gradual reduction of the maintenance therapy should be tried in order to identify the minimum therapy required to maintain control. This will help reduce the risk of side effects and enhance patient adherence to the treatment plan.

Reduction of therapy in patients on combination therapy should begin with a reduction in the dose of inhaled glucocorticosteroid.1 The present study is designed to evaluate if patients with controlled asthma treated with FP 1000 mcg + salmeterol 100 mcg daily can be stepped down. Stepping-down will be attempted with two medications: a new combination of extrafine beclomethasone dipropionate 400 mcg + formoterol 24 mcg daily (test medication, Foster™) and, alternatively, fluticasone propionate 500 mcg + salmeterol 100 mcg daily(reference medication) without losing asthma control.If this hypothesis will be confirmed, the present study will demonstrate that asthma control can be maintained with less than half the dose of inhaled corticosteroid and with less medical costs.

Given the aims of this study, the population to be monitored includes adult patients with moderate persistent asthma, which can be defined controlled according to the current guidelines under standard stabilised treatment. The intended treatment duration is therefore designed to ensure that good control of asthma is firmly achieved before stepping down the treatment (8 weeks run-in period), but also that the condition of the patients are followed long enough (24 weeks comparative treatment period) to ensure that a new stable condition is also obtained and properly monitored.


Options:
A: 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
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients will be enrolled for screening at Visit 1 into the run-in period if they meet all the following criteria:
* Clinical diagnosis of moderate persistent asthma for at least 6 months, according to GINA revised version 2005 guidelines 1 and considering current treatment;
* Forced expiratory volume (FEV1) or peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) ≥ 80% of the predicted normal value;
* Treated with fluticasone 1000 mcg + salmeterol 100 mcg daily for at least 4 weeks at a stable dose;
* Reporting no nocturnal symptoms or awakenings, no exacerbations, no limitations of activities, symptoms in ≤2 days and use of rescue medication ≤2 days per week, in the last 4 weeks;
* Exhibiting a co-operative attitude and ability to be trained to correctly use the study devices and to complete the diary cards.

At the end of run in period (Week 8+0; Visit 3), patients will be recruited into the treatment period and randomized to treatment if they meet the following criterion:

* Asthma is controlled 1 in each of the last 4 weeks of run-in (no nocturnal symptoms or awakenings; no exacerbations; no limitations of activities; symptoms in ≤2 days; use of rescue medication ≤2 days; morning PEF ≥80% of predicted in every day) confirmed by reviewing the diary cards.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability to carry out pulmonary function testing;
* Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) as defined by the NHLBI/WHO's GOLD guidelines;
* Current smokers or recent (less than one year) ex-smokers with a smoking history of ≥10 pack/years;
* History of near fatal asthma;
* Evidence of 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 anticholinergics and antihistamines during the previous 2 weeks, with topical or intranasal corticosteroids and leukotriene antagonists during the previous 4 weeks;
* History or current evidence of heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, severe hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias;
* Diabetes mellitus;
* PTCA or 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;
* 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 who received any investigational new drug within the last 12 weeks;

At the end of run in period (Week 8+0; Visit 3), patients will not be randomized to treatment if they do not completely meet the definition of "controlled asthma". These subjects will be considered screening failures and will not count against the planned number to be recruited.
C: 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
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female patients at least 18 years or older (females less than one year post-menopausal must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test recorded within 72 hours 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 sterilization, implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, some IUDs (Intrauterine Device, hormonal), sexual abstinence or vasectomised partner).
* Known history of mild to moderate-severe reversible asthma for \> 6 months prior to the screening visit.
* Demonstrate a FEV1 of \>40% to \<80% for predicted normal values (EGKS normal values, 1983) during the screening phase following appropriate withholding of asthma medications (if applicable).

  * No beta agonist use on day of screening.
  * No use of combination asthma therapy on day of screening.
  * Inhaled corticosteroids are allowed on day of screening.
* Documented reversibility of \> 15% in FEV1 in the screening phase.
* Demonstrate satisfactory technique in the use of the pressurized MDI.
* Willing and able to enter information in the electronic diary and attend all study visits.
* Willing and able to substitute study medication for their pre study prescribed asthma medication for the duration of the study.
* Written informed consent obtained.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Life-threatening asthma within the past year. This category includes those patients with a history of near-fatal asthma, a hospitalization or an emergency visit for asthma or prior intubation for asthma.
* History of systemic (injectable) corticosteroid medication within 1 month before the Screening Visit.
* History of omalizumab use within the past 6 months.
* History of leukotriene receptor antagonist use, e.g. montelukast, within the past week.
* Current evidence or 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 patient at risk through study participation, or which would affect the outcome of the study.
* An upper or lower respiratory infection within 4 weeks prior to the Screening Visit.
* Significant, non-reversible, active pulmonary disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, tuberculosis).
* Known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive status.
* 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)
* Current smoking history within 12 months prior to the Screening Visit.
* Current evidence or history of alcohol and/or substance abuse within 12 months prior to the Screening Visit.
* Patients who have taken beta-blocking agents, tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, astemizole (Hismanal), quinidine type antiarrhythmics, or potent CYP 3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole within the past week.
* Current use of medications that will have an effect on bronchospasm and/or pulmonary function.
* Current evidence or history of hypersensitivity or idiosyncratic reaction to test medications or components.
* Receipt of an investigational drug within 30 days of the Screening Visit (12 weeks if an oral or injectable steroid).
* Current participation in a clinical study.

Answer: B