Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A Randomized, Open Label, Parallel-group, International, Multicenter Study Evaluating Persistency of Response to Omalizumab During 32 Weeks Treatment Given as Add on to Optimized Asthma Therapy in Adult and Adolescent Patients With Severe Persistent Allergic Asthma, Who Remain Inadequately Controlled Despite GINA (2004) Step 4 Therapy
Brief Summary: Omalizumab will be given as add-on treatment to optimized asthma therapy in patients with severe persistent asthma, who demonstrate inadequate asthma symptom control. Response to omalizumab over time will be assessed by physicians and patients evaluating the overall improvement in control of their asthma.

THIS STUDY IS NOT ENROLLING PATIENTS IN THE US.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male or female
* Aged 12 to 65 years inclusive
* Minimum weight 45kg
* Clinical features of severe refractory asthma
* Well documented requirement for high dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) \[i.e. \>= 880mcg/day fluticasone propionate or equivalent daily\] for at least 12 months
* Using additional controller medication in addition to high dose ICS for at least 12 months
* Persistent airflow obstruction indicated by a pre-bronchodilator FEV1\<80% predicted at visit 1 or 2 or peak flow diurnal variability of \>20% on 3 or more days during the run-in
* Airway inflammation which is likely to be eosinophilic in nature demonstrated by either raised peripheral blood eosinophils (\>=300/microL), sputum eosinophils (\>=3%), exhaled nitric oxide (\>=50ppb) or prompt deterioration of asthma control following a \<=25% reduction in regular maintenance dose of inhaled or oral corticosteroids (OCS)
* History of 2 or more exacerbations requiring systemic corticosteroids in the previous 12 months
* Evidence of asthma documented by airway reversibility, airway hyperresponsiveness or airflow variability
* ECG assessment demonstrating QTc\<450msec or QTc\<480msec for patients with bundle branch block
* Liver function tests demonstrating ALT\<2xUpper Limit of Normal (ULN), AST\<2xULN, Alk Phos \<=1.5xULN, bilirubin \<=1.5xULN
* Female of non-child-bearing potential or child-bearing potential with a negative pregnancy test at screening and prepared to agree to an acceptable method of contraception
* Able to give written informed consent
* Able to read, comprehend and write at a sufficient level to complete study materials

Exclusion Criteria:

* Current smokers or smoking history of \>=10 pack years
* Clinically important lung condition other than asthma
* Diagnosis of malignancy or in the process of investigation
* Unstable liver disease
* Churg-Strauss syndrome
* Using methotrexate, troleandomycin, oral gold, cyclosporine, azathioprine or any experimental anti-inflammatory therapy within 3 months of screening
* Omalizumab (Xolair) or any other biological for the treatment of inflammatory disease within 6 months of Visit 1
* Regular use of oral or systemic corticosteroids for diseases other than asthma within 12 months or any intra-articular, short-acting intramuscular corticosteroid within 1 month or intramuscular, long-acting depot corticosteroid within 3 months
* Allergy/intolerance to the excipients in the mepolizumab formulation
* Any investigational drug within 30 days or 5 terminal half-lives, whichever is longer
* Pregnant or breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant
* Clinically significant disease which is uncontrolled with standard treatment
* History of alcohol misuse or substance abuse
* Parasitic infestation within previous 6 months
* Known immunodeficiency
* Unable to follow instructions, use the electronic diary or peak flow meter
* Known evidence of lack of adherence to controller medications and/or follow physician's recommendations
* Previous participation in a study of mepolizumab and received study medication within 90 days
B: Inclusion Criteria:

Patients who met the following criteria were included:

* Males or females of any race, who were 12-75 years of age
* A body weight ≥ 20 kg and ≤ 150 kg and with a total serum IgE level ≥ 30 to ≤ 700 IU/ml
* A diagnosis of allergic asthma ≥ 1 year duration according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria and at screening a history consistent with GINA (2204) step 3 or 4 clinical features
* A positive prick skin test (diameter of wheal \>= 3 mm) to at least one perennial allergen documented within the past 2 years or taken at visit 1
* Increase in FEV1 ≥12% over baseline value within 30 minutes of taking 2 to 4 puffs (2-4x100µg) salbutamol (albuterol) or nebulized salbutamol up to 5mg
* An FEV1 ≥ 40 and ≤ 80% of the predicted normal value for the patient at randomization
* Receiving moderate to high dose inhaled corticosteroid ≥ 800 µg BDP or equivalent and a regular inhaled long acting B-2 agonists for at least 3 months prior to screening and \> 1000 µg (BDP) and a LABA for at least 4 weeks during the run-in and at randomization
* Patients who have suffered multiple (i.e. at least two) independent documented severe asthma exacerbations while receiving high doses of ICS (≥ 800 µg BDP or equivalent) plus regular inhaled LABA
* Evidence of poor asthma control at screening (based on patient history) and for at least 4 weeks immediately prior to randomisation

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who met the following criteria were excluded:

* Had received systemic corticosteroids for reasons other than asthma within 4 weeks of Visit 1
* A smoking history \>10 pack years
* An active lung disease other than allergic asthma
* Elevated serum IgE levels for reasons other than allergy
* Patients with significant underlying medical conditions
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Both body weight and total serum IgE suitable for omalizumab dosing.
* Diagnosis of asthma made by a physician more than 1 year prior to study entry OR diagnosis of asthma made less than 1 year prior to study entry but have had asthma symptoms for longer than 1 year prior to study entry
* Are receiving long-term asthma control therapy OR have symptoms consistent with persistent asthma OR have evidence of uncontrolled disease
* Positive prick skin test to at least one perennial allergen (e.g., dust mite, cockroach, mold, cat, dog, rat, mouse)
* Live in a preselected zip code are
* Able to perform spirometry measurements
* Willing to sign informed consent or have parent or guardian willing to provide informed consent
* Previously had chicken pox or received varicella (chicken pox) vaccine
* Have some form of health care insurance that covers costs of medications

Exclusion Criteria:

If participant meets any of these criteria, they are not eligible at that time but may be reassessed:

* Systemic prednisone (or equivalent) during the 2 weeks prior to Visit 2
* Systemic prednisone (or equivalent) for more than 30 of the 60 days prior to study entry
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding
* Acute sinusitis or chest infection requiring antibiotics within 1 month of study screening
* Currently participating in another asthma-related clinical trial or have previously participated in an another asthma-related trial within 1 month of study entry
* Does not sleep at least 4 nights per week in one home
* Lives with a foster parent
* Does not have access to a phone
* Plans to move during the study
* Previously treated with anti-IgE therapy within 1 year of study entry
* Currently receiving or received hyposensitization therapy to any allergen in the year prior to study entry
* Previously received hyposensitization therapy to dust mite, Alternaria, or cockroach for more than 6 months in the 3 years prior to study entry

If participant meets any of these criteria, they are not eligible for the study and may not be reassessed:

* Significant medical illness. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
* Certain medications within 4 weeks of study screening. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
* Known hypersensitivity to any ingredients of omalizumab or related drugs
* Diagnosis of cancer, being investigated for possible cancer, or history of cancer
* Will not allow study physician to manage their asthma
* Does not primarily speak English (or Spanish at centers with Spanish-speaking staff)
* History of severe anaphylactoid or anaphylactic reaction(s)
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Subject is an adult between the ages of 18 to 65 years.
* Subject has asthma and is taking regular maintenance medication that includes Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) AND long acting ß2-agonist (LABA).
* Subject has a Pre-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) of greater than or equal to 60% of predicted after medication stabilization during the Baseline Period.
* Subject has a PC20 \< 8 mg/ml per methacholine inhalation test using standardized methods. PC20 is a provocative concentration of Provocholine® (a brand of methacholine chloride) resulting in a drop of FEV1 of 20% or more from Baseline.
* Subject has at least two days of asthma symptoms during the 4-weeks of the Baseline Diary Period.
* Subject is a non-smoker for 1 year or greater (if former smoker, less than 10 pack years total smoking history).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subject has a Post-bronchodilator FEV1 of less than 65%.
* Subject has 3 or more hospitalizations for exacerbations of asthma in the previous year; OR a history of life-threatening asthma, defined by past intubations for asthma, or ICU admission for asthma within the prior 24 months.
* Subject has a history of recurrent lower respiratory tract infections requiring antibiotics (more than 3 in the past 12 months).
* Subject has a history of recurrent oral steroid use for asthma (4 or more pulses of oral steroids in the past 12 months).
* Subject has a known sensitivity to medications required to perform bronchoscopy (such as lidocaine, atropine and benzodiazepines).
* Subject has known systemic hypersensitivity or contraindication to Methacholine chloride or other parasympathomimetic agents.
* Subject has other medical criteria.

Answer: B