GSK2190915 Neutrophilic Asthma Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect on repeat doses of GSK2190915 in asthmatic patients with a high percentage of neutrophils in their sputum. GSK2190915 will be given as an add on to current therapy, and its effects on the percentage of sputum neutrophils in the patients will be assessed.

This is a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled, two-way cross-over study to evaluate the effect of treatment with repeat dose GSK2190915, a 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) inhibitor, as an add-on to current therapy on the percentage of neutrophils in induced sputum in asthmatic patients with elevated sputum neutrophils. Approximately 20 subjects will be enrolled onto the study to ensure that approximately 14 evaluable subjects complete the study. All subjects will receive oral placebo and GSK2190915 100mg once daily for up to 16 days. Sputum neutrophilia will be assessed prior to treatment and on treatment. Key assessments: sputum cell counts, biomarker samples in sputum, blood and urine, and pharmacokinetics. Safety will be assessed by vital signs, electrocardiograms (ECGs), clinical laboratory safety tests and collection of adverse events (AEs).

GSK2190915 is a high affinity 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (FLAP) inhibitor that attenuates the production of leukotrienes, through the blockage of the first committed step in the leukotriene pathway, 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) activation. Leukotrienes are potent inflammatory molecules produced mainly by mast cells, eosinophils, monocytes/macrophage and neutrophils in response to allergic or inflammatory stimuli. As GSK2190915 reproducibly inhibits the production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) both in vitro and in vivo it has strong potential utility in the treatment of asthma.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 2xUpper limit of normal (ULN); alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin ≤ 1.5xULN (isolated bilirubin \>1.5xULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin \<35%).
* Males and females ages 18 years old and above.
* An established clinical history of asthma in accordance with the definition by the GINA Guidelines.
* Subjects who are stable on their current treatment for at least one month prior to first dose and for the duration of the study.
* Persistent sputum neutrophilia in the absence of infection. Persistent is defined at being met at Screening and Visit 1 of Treatment Period 1. At least one sputum sample must show neutrophils ≥ 50%. The other sample must be \> 45%.
* A female subject is eligible to participate if she is of:

  * Non-childbearing potential defined as pre-menopausal females with a documented (medical report verification) hysterectomy or double oophorectomy; or postmenopausal defined as 12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea or 6 months of spontaneous amenorrhea with serum Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels \> 40 mIU/mL and estradiol \< 40 pg/ml (\<140 pmol/L) or 6 weeks postsurgical bilateral oophorectomy with or without hysterectomy. Females on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and whose menopausal status is in doubt will be required to use one of the contraception methods specified in the protocol if they wish to continue their Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) during the study. Otherwise, they must discontinue HRT to allow confirmation of postmenopausal status prior to study enrollment. For most forms of HRT, at least 2-4 weeks will elapse between the cessation of therapy and the blood draw; this interval depends on the type and dosage of HRT. Following confirmation of their post-menopausal status, they can resume use of HRT during the study without use of a contraceptive method.
  * Child-bearing potential and agrees to use one of the contraception methods listed in Section 8.1 for an appropriate period of time (as determined by the product label or investigator) prior to the start of dosing to sufficiently minimize the risk of pregnancy at that point. Female subjects must agree to use contraception until the follow up visit, or at least 6 days after last dose.
* Signed and dated written informed consent is obtained from the subject
* The subject is able to understand and comply with the protocol requirements, instructions and protocol-stated restrictions.

Exclusion Criteria:

* A positive pre-study Hepatitis B surface antigen or positive Hepatitis C antibody result within 3 months of screening.
* The subject has tested positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus ev1(HIV) antibodies.
* Current or chronic history of liver disease, or known hepatic or biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones).
* Past or present disease, which as judged by the investigator or medical monitor, may affect the outcome of this study. These diseases include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular disease, malignancy, gastrointestinal disease, hepatic disease, renal disease, haematological disease, neurological disease, endocrine disease or pulmonary disease (excluding asthma but including but not confined to chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchiectasis, eosinophilic bronchitis or pulmonary fibrosis).
* History of asthma exacerbations or acute intercurrent respiratory illness (viral respiratory syndrome, bronchitis, pneumonia) for a four week period before the screening visit.
* History of life-threatening asthma, defined as an asthma episode that required intubations and/or was associated with hypercapnia, respiratory arrest and/or hypoxic seizures.
* FEV1 \< 1 litre post salbutamol.
* Clinically significant abnormalities in vital signs or safety laboratory analysis at screening.
* The subject has a clinically significant QT duration corrected for heart rate (QTc) value at screening.
* The subject has a positive pre-study urine drug or urine or breath alcohol screen. A minimum list of drugs that will be screened for include Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Cocaine, Opiates, Cannabinoids and Benzodiazepines.
* Administration of injectable steroids within 6 weeks of screening.
* Administration of any vaccinations within 2 weeks of screening or during the study.
* Administration of biological therapies within 3 months of the screening visit or during the study.
* Subject is undergoing allergen desensitisation therapy.
* Administration of OATP1B1 substrates from 2 weeks before dosing, and until all follow up assessments are completed.
* Subject is unable to abstain from taking prescription or non-prescription drugs (including vitamins and dietary or herbal supplements) including non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-depressant drugs, anti-histamines and antiasthma, anti-rhinitis or hay fever medication, with the exception of ICS, Long Acting Beta Agonist (LABA), montelukast and short action beta agonists, within 7 days (or 14 days if the drug is a potential enzyme inducer) or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of study medication until completion of the follow-up visit, unless in the opinion of the Investigator and sponsor the medication will not interfere with the study.
* The subject has participated in a study with a new molecular entity during the previous 3 months or has participated in 4 or more clinical studies in the previous 12 months prior to the first dosing day.
* History of blood donation (500 mL) within 3 months of starting the clinical study.
* History of alcohol abuse or the subject regularly drinks more than 28 units of alcohol in a week if male, or 21 units per week if female. One unit of alcohol is defined as a medium (125 ml) glass of wine, half a pint (250 ml) of beer or one measure (25 ml) of spirits.
* There is a risk of non-compliance with study procedures.