Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A 12-month, Open Label, Randomised, Effectiveness Study to Evaluate Fluticasone Furoate (FF, GW685698)/Vilanterol (VI, GW642444) Inhalation Powder Delivered Once Daily Via a Novel Dry Powder Inhaler Compared With Usual Maintenance Therapy in Subjects With Asthma
Brief Summary: This study is designed to compare the effectiveness and safety of Fluticasone Furoate/Vilanterol Inhalation Powder (100mcg Fluticasone Furoate ((FF), GW685698)/25mcg Vilanterol ((VI), GW642444) or 200mcg Fluticasone Furoate ((FF), GW685698)/25mcg Vilanterol ((VI), GW642444) ) delivered once daily via a Novel Dry Powder Inhaler (NDPI) compared with the existing asthma maintenance therapy over twelve months in subjects diagnosed with asthma. This is a Phase III multi-centre, randomised open label study. Subjects who meet the eligibility criteria are randomised and will enter a 12 month treatment period.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

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

1. Informed consent: Subjects must be able to provide informed consent, have their consent signed and dated.
2. Type of subject: Subjects with documented GP diagnosis of asthma as their primary respiratory disease.
3. Current Anti-Asthma Therapy: All subjects must be prescribed maintenance therapy and receiving ICS with or without LABA (either a fixed combination or via separate inhalers), and for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 2.

   * Other background asthma medication such as anti-leukotrienes are permitted
4. All subjects on ICS monotherapy or ICS/LABA combination (this can be a fixed dose combination or an ICS alone or LABA alone in separate inhalers) must have had symptoms in the past week prior to Visit 2. Symptoms are defined by daytime symptoms more than twice per week, use of short-acting beta2-agonist bronchodilator more than twice per week, any limitation of activities, or any nocturnal symptoms/awakening. (The symptoms are based on subject's recall and are consistent with the GINA and in principal with the BTS/SIGN guidelines).
5. Subject questionnaires: Subjects must be able to complete the electronic subject questionnaires as well as those questionnaires that are completed by phone or provide a proxy e.g. a partner/relative/a friend who can do so on their behalf
6. Gender and Age: Male or female subjects aged ≥18 years of age at Visit 1. A female is eligible to enter and participate in the study if she is of:

   * Non-child bearing potential (i.e. physiologically incapable of becoming pregnant, including any female who is post-menopausal or surgically sterile). Surgically sterile females are defined as those with a documented hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy or tubal ligation. Post-menopausal females are defined as being amenorrhoeic for greater than 1 year with an appropriate clinical profile, e.g. age appropriate, history of vasomotor symptoms. However in questionable cases, a blood sample with FSH \> 40MIU/ml and estradiol \<40pg/ml (\<147 pmol/L) is confirmatory.

OR Child bearing potential has a negative urine pregnancy test at Visit 2, and agrees to one of the highly effective and acceptable contraceptive methods used consistently and correctly (i.e. in accordance with the approved product label and the instructions of the physician for the duration of the study - Visit 2 to the end of the study).

Exclusion Criteria:

Subjects meeting any of the following criteria must not be enrolled in the study:

1. Recent history of Life-threatening asthma: Defined for this protocol as an asthma episode that required intubation and/or was associated with hypercapnea, respiratory arrest or hypoxic seizures within the last 6 months.
2. COPD Respiratory Disease: A subject must not have current evidence or GP diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
3. Other diseases/abnormalities: Subjects with historical or current evidence of uncontrolled or clinically significant disease. Significant is defined as any disease that, in the opinion of the GP/ 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.
4. Drug/food allergy: Subjects with a history of hypersensitivity to any of the study medications (e.g., beta2-agonists, corticosteroid) or components of the inhalation powder (e.g., lactose, magnesium stearate). In addition, subjects with a history of severe milk protein allergy that, in the opinion of the GP/ Investigator, contraindicates the subject's participation will also be excluded.
5. Investigational Medications: A subject must not have used any investigational drug within 30 days prior to Visit 2 or within five half-lives (t½) of the prior investigational study (whichever is longer of the two), (if unsure discuss with the medical monitor prior to screening)
6. Chronic user of systemic corticosteroids: A subject who, in the opinion of the GP/Investigator, is considered to be a chronic user of systemic corticosteroids for respiratory or other indications (if unsure discuss with the medical monitor prior to screening)
7. Subjects who are using LABA without an ICS as asthma maintenance therapy.
8. Subjects who plan to move away from the geographical area where the study is being conducted during the study period and/or if subjects have not consented to their medical records being part of the electronic medical records database that is operational in the Salford area.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older at the time of signing the informed consent.
* Subjects with a diagnosis of asthma as defined by the National Institutes of Health at least 6 months prior to Visit 0.
* Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ)-6 total score of \>0.75 at Visit 1.
* Subjects are eligible if they have required daily Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) therapy \>=100 milligram per day (mg/day) fluticasone propionate (FP) or equivalent with or without Long-Acting Beta-2-Agonists (LABA) or Long-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA) for at least 12 weeks prior to Visit 0 and there have been no changes in maintenance asthma medications during the 4 weeks immediately prior to Visit 0. Dosing regimen (once or twice daily to equal the total daily dose) should be restricted to the current local product labels.
* A best pre-bronchodilator morning FEV1 \<=85% of the predicted normal value. Predicted values will be based upon the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Global Lung Function Initiative. A best post-bronchodilator FEV1/ forced vital capacity (FVC) \>=0.7 at Visit 1.
* Airway reversibility is defined as \>=12% and \>=200 mL increase in FEV1 between 20 and 60 minutes following 4 inhalations of albuterol/salbutamol aerosol at Visit 1. Note: If the subject does not meet the above reversibility criteria at Visit 1 then the reversibility assessment may be repeated once within 7 days of Visit 1 if either criteria are met: The \>=9% increase in FEV1 between 20 and 60 minutes following 4 inhalations of albuterol/salbutamol aerosol at Visit 1; Documented evidence of a reversibility assessment within 1 year prior to Visit 1 which demonstrated a post-bronchodilator increase in FEV1 of \>=12% and \>=200 milliliter (mL). Should the subject successfully demonstrate airway reversibility (defined as \>=12% and \>=200 mL increase in FEV1 between 20 and 60 minutes following 4 inhalations of albuterol/salbutamol aerosol) at the second attempt then, provided that all other eligibility criteria assessed at Visit 1 are met, the subject may enter the 2-week run-in period.
* All subjects must be able to replace their current Short-Acting Beta-2-Agonists (SABA) inhaler with albuterol/salbutamol aerosol inhaler at Visit 1 as needed for the duration of the study. Subjects must be judged capable of withholding albuterol/salbutamol for at least 6 hours prior to study visits.
* Both male and female subjects are eligible to participate in the study. A female subject is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies: Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or a WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance during the treatment period and for at least 5 days after the last dose of study treatment.
* Able to give written informed consent prior to participation in the study, which will include the ability to comply with the requirements and restrictions listed in the consent form and in this protocol. Subjects must be able to read, comprehend, and write at a level sufficient to complete study related materials.

Inclusion Criteria (for randomization)

* ACQ-6 total score of \>0.75 at Visit 2.
* Spirometry: A best pre-bronchodilator morning FEV1 \<=85% of the predicted normal value at Visit 2. Predicted values will be based upon the ERS Global Lung Function Initiative.
* Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<=2 x upper limit of normal (ULN). Alkaline phosphatase \<=1.5 x ULN. Bilirubin \<=1.5 x ULN (isolated bilirubin \>1.5 x ULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin \<35%).
* Compliance with completion of the Daily electronic diary (eDiary) reporting defined as completion of all questions/assessments on \>=4 of the last 7 days during the run-in period.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Chest X-ray documented pneumonia in the 12 weeks prior to Visit 1.
* Any severe asthma exacerbation, defined as deterioration of asthma requiring the use of systemic corticosteroids (oral, parenteral or depot) within 12 weeks of Visit 1, or an inpatient hospitalization or emergency department visit due to asthma that required systemic corticosteroids within 12 weeks of Visit 1.
* Current evidence of pneumonia, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pulmonary fibrotic disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, or other respiratory abnormalities other than asthma.
* Women who are pregnant or lactating or are planning to become pregnant during the study.
* Immune suppression (e.g., Human Immunodeficiency Virus \[HIV\], Lupus) or other risk factors for pneumonia (e.g., neurological disorders affecting control of the upper airway, such as Parkinson's disease, Myasthenia Gravis). Subjects at potentially high risk (e.g., very low Body Mass Index \[BMI\], severely malnourished, or very low FEV1) will only be included at the discretion of the Investigator
* Subjects with historical or current evidence of clinically significant cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, renal, hepatic, immunological, gastrointestinal, urogenital, nervous system, musculoskeletal, skin, sensory, endocrine (including uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease) or hematological abnormalities that are uncontrolled. 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.
* Unstable liver disease as defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia, esophageal or gastric varices or persistent jaundice, cirrhosis, known biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones). Note: Chronic stable hepatitis B and C is acceptable if the subject otherwise meets entry criteria.
* Evidence of a clinically significant abnormality in the 12-lead ECG performed during screening or run-in. The Principal Investigator will determine the clinical significance of each abnormal ECG finding in relation to the subject's medical history and exclude subjects who would be at undue risk by participating in the trial. An abnormal and clinically significant finding is defined as a 12-lead tracing that is interpreted as, but not limited to, any of the following: Atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular rate \>120 beats per minute (BPM); Sustained or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT); Second degree heart block Mobitz type II and third degree heart block (unless pacemaker or defibrillator had been inserted); QT interval corrected for heart rate by Fridericia's formula (QTcF) \>=500 millisecond (msec) in subjects with QRS \<120 msec and QTcF \>=530 msec in subjects with QRS \>=120 msec.
* Subjects with any of the following at Screening (Visit 1) would be excluded: Myocardial infarction or unstable angina in the last 6 months; Unstable or life threatening cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention in the last 3 months; New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV Heart failure.
* Subjects with a medical condition such as narrow-angle glaucoma, urinary retention, prostatic hypertrophy or bladder neck obstruction should only be included if in the opinion of the Investigator the benefit outweighs the risk and that the condition would not contraindicate study participation.
* Subjects with carcinoma that has not been in complete remission for at least 5 years. Subjects who have had carcinoma in situ of the cervix, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin would not be excluded based on the 5 year waiting period if the subject has been considered cured by treatment.
* Subjects with a history of psychiatric disease, intellectual deficiency, poor motivation or other conditions that will limit the validity of informed consent to participate in the study.
* Subjects who are medically unable to withhold their albuterol/salbutamol for the 6-hour period required prior to spirometry testing at each study visit.
* Current smoker or a smoking history of \>=10 pack years (e.g., 20 cigarettes/day for 10 years). A subject may not have used inhaled tobacco products within the past 12 months (i.e., cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vaping, cigars or pipe tobacco).
* Subjects with a known or suspected history of alcohol or drug abuse within the last 2 years. This includes marijuana, which is considered an abused drug.
* A history of allergy or hypersensitivity to any corticosteroid, anticholinergic/muscarinic receptor antagonist, beta2-agonist, lactose/milk protein or magnesium stearate.
* Subjects at risk of non-compliance, or unable to comply with the study procedures. Any infirmity, disability, or geographic location that would limit compliance for scheduled visits.
* Study investigators, sub-investigators, study coordinators, employees of a participating investigator or study site, or immediate family members of the aforementioned that is involved with this study.
* In the opinion of the Investigator, any subject who is unable to read and/or would not be able to complete study related materials.

Exclusion Criteria (for randomization)

* Occurrence of a 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.
* Evidence of a moderate asthma exacerbation leading to a change in therapy or severe exacerbation during screening or the run-in period, defined as deterioration of asthma requiring the use of systemic corticosteroids (tablets, suspension, or injection) or an in-patient hospitalization or emergency department visit due to asthma that required systemic corticosteroids.
* Changes in asthma medication (excluding changes after Visit 0 or run-in medication and albuterol/salbutamol inhalation aerosol provided at Visit 1).
* Evidence of clinically significant abnormal laboratory tests during screening or run-in, 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.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with a diagnosis of asthma, (GINA 2015) for a period of at least 1 year prior to Visit 1 (Screening).
* Patients who have used medium or high dose of ICS/LABA combinations for asthma for at least 3 months and at stable medium or high doses of ICS/LABA for at least 1 month prior to Visit 1.
* Patients must be symptomatic at screening despite treatment with mid or high stable doses of ICS/LABA. Patients with ACQ-7 score ≥ 1.5 at Visit 101 and at Visit 102 (before randomization).
* Patients with documented history of at least one asthma exacerbation which required medical care from a physician, ER visit (or local equivalent structure) or hospitalization in the 12 months prior to Visit 1, and required systemic corticosteroid treatment.
* Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 of \< 80 % of the predicted normal value for the patient according to ATS/ERS guidelines after withholding bronchodilators at both visits 101 and 102.
* Withholding period of bronchodilators prior to spirometry: SABA for ≥ 6 hrs, Twice daily LABA (or FDC of ICS/LABA) for ≥ 12 hrs, Once daily LABA (or FDC of ICS/LABA) for ≥ 24 hrs, SAMA for ≥ 8 hrs, Short acting xanthines for 12 hrs, Long acting xanthines for 24 hrs, .
* Washout period of each drug should be kept as close as possible as above and should not be longer. If longer washout period is needed due to scheduling issues, please contact Novartis Medical monitor.
* A one-time repeat of percentage predicated FEV1 (Pre-bronchodilator) at Visit 101 and/or Visit 102 is allowed in an ad-hoc visit. Repeat of Visit 101 spirometry should be done in an ad-hoc visit to be scheduled on a date that would provide sufficient time to receive confirmation from the spirometry data central reviewer of the validity of the assessment before randomization. Run-in medication should be dispensed once spirometry assessment met inclusion criteria (ATS/ERS quality criteria, FEV1 % predicted normal value, and reversibility) as per equipment
* A one-time rescreen is allowed in case the patient fails to meet the criteria at the repeat, provided the patient returned to the required treatment as per inclusion criteria 4
* Patients who demonstrate an increase in FEV1 of 12% and 200 mL within 30 minutes after administration of 400 µg salbutamol/360 µg albuterol (or equivalent dose) at Visit 101.All patients must perform a reversibility test at Visit 101. If reversibility is not demonstrated at Visit 101 then one of the following criteria need to be met.
* Reversibility should be repeated once.
* Patients may be permitted to enter the study with historical evidence of reversibility that was performed according to ATS/ERS guidelines within 2 years prior to Visit 1.
* Alternatively, patients may be permitted to enter the study with a historical positive bronchoprovocation test that was performed within 2 years prior to Visit 1. If reversibility is not demonstrated at Visit 101 (or after repeated assessment in an ad-hoc visit) and historical evidence of reversibility/bronchoprovocation is not available (or was not performed according to the ATS/ERS guidelines patients must be screen failed
* Spacer devices are permitted during reversibility testing only. The Investigator or delegate may decide whether or not to use a spacer for the reversibility testing

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who have had an asthma attack/exacerbation requiring systemic steroids or hospitalization or emergency room visit within 6 weeks of Visit 1 (Screening). If patients experience an asthma attack/exacerbation requiring systemic steroids or hospitalization or emergency room visit between Visit 1 and Visit 102 they may be re-screened 6 weeks after recovery from the exacerbation.
* Patients who have ever required intubation for a severe asthma attack/exacerbation.
* Patients who have a clinical condition which is likely to be worsened by ICS administration (e.g. glaucoma, cataract and fragility fractures) who are according to investigator's medical judgment at risk participating in the study.
* Patients treated with a LAMA for asthma within 3 months prior Visit 1 (Screening).
* Patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or bladder-neck obstruction or severe renal impairment or urinary retention. BPH patients who are stable on treatment can be considered).
* Patients who have had a respiratory tract infection or asthma worsening as determined by investigator within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 (Screening) or between Visit 1 and Visit 102. Patients may be re-screened 4 weeks after recovery from their respiratory tract infection or asthma worsening.
* Patients with evidence upon visual inspection (laboratory culture is not required) of clinically significant (in the opinion of investigator) oropharyngeal candidiasis at Visit 102 or earlier, with or without treatment. Patients may be re-screened once their candidiasis has been treated and has resolved.
* Patients with any chronic conditions affecting the upper respiratory tract (e.g. chronic sinusitis) which in the opinion of the investigator may interfere with the study evaluation or optimal participation in the study.
* Patients with a history of chronic lung diseases other than asthma, including (but not limited to) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, clinically significant bronchiectasis and active tuberculosis.
* Patients with Type I diabetes or uncontrolled Type II diabetes.
* Patients who, either in the judgment of the investigator or the responsible Novartis personnel, have a clinically significant condition such as (but not limited to) unstable ischemic heart disease, New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III/IV left ventricular failure arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, psychiatric disease, neurodegenerative diseases, or other neurological disease, uncontrolled hypo- and hyperthyroidism and other autoimmune diseases, hypokalemia, hyperadrenergic state, or ophthalmologic disorder or patients with a medical condition that might compromise patient safety or compliance, interfere with evaluation, or preclude completion of the study.
* Patients with paroxysmal (e.g., intermittent) atrial fibrillation are excluded. Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation as defined by continuous atrial fibrillation for at least 6 months and controlled with a rate control strategy (i.e., selective beta blockers, calcium channel blocker, pacemaker placement, digoxin or ablation therapy) for at least 6 months may be considered for inclusion. In such patients, atrial fibrillation must be present at the run-in visit (Visit 101) with a resting ventricular rate \< 100/min. At Visit 101 the atrial fibrillation must be confirmed by central reading.
* Patients with a history of myocardial infarction (this should be confirmed clinically by the investigator) within the previous 12 months.
* Concomitant use of agents known to prolong the QT interval unless it can be permanently discontinued for the duration of study
* Patients with a history of long QT syndrome or whose QTc measured at Visit 101 (Fridericia method) is prolonged (\> 450 msec for males and \> 460 msec for females) and confirmed by a central assessor (these patients should not be rescreened).
* Patients with a history of hypersensitivity to lactose, any of the study drugs or to similar drugs within the class including untoward reactions to sympathomimetic amines or inhaled medication or any component thereof.
* Patients who have not achieved an acceptable spirometry result at Visit 101 in accordance with ATS/ERS criteria for acceptability and repeatability. A one-time repeat spirometry is allowed in an ad-hoc visit scheduled as close as possible from the first attempt (but not on the same day) if the spirometry did not qualify due to ATS/ERS criteria at Visit 101 and/or Visit 102. If the patient fails the repeat assessment, the patient may be rescreened once, provided the patient returns to the required treatment as per inclusion criteria 4.
* Patients unable to use the Concept1 dry powder inhaler, Accuhaler or a metered dose inhaler. Spacer devices are not permitted.
* History of alcohol or other substance abuse.
* Patients with a known history of non-compliance to medication or who were unable or unwilling to complete a patient diary or who are unable or unwilling to use Electronic Peak Flow with e-diary device.
* Patients who do not maintain regular day/night, waking/sleeping cycles (e.g., night shift workers).
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Outpatients at least 12 years of age
* Male and female; female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use birth control
* Pre-bronchodilator FEV1 of 40-90% predicted normal
* Reversibility FEV1 of at least 12% and 200mL
* Current asthma therapy includes inhaled corticosteroid use for at least 12 weeks prior to first visit

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of life-threatening asthma during last 10 years
* Respiratory infection or oral candidiasis
* Asthma exacerbation requiring oral corticosteroids or that required overnight hospitalisation requiring additional asthma treatment
* Uncontrolled disease or clinical abnormality
* Allergies to study drugs or the excipients
* Taking another investigational medication or prohibited medication
* Night shift workers
* Current smokers or subjects with a smoking history of at least 10 pack years

Answer: A