Fall Epidemic Viral Pediatric Study

Study ADA113872 is an exploratory 16-week multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, parallel group study in pediatric subjects, 4 to 11 years of age, with a history of seasonal asthma exacerbation(s). Approximately 40 clinical sites in the United States will randomize 316 subjects. Eligible subjects will be randomly assigned to one of two double-blind treatments using a 1:1 randomization. Subjects will be identified for their eligibility for enrolment starting in April 2010. Eligible subjects will be invited to return for randomization into the study in August 2010. This exploratory study is being conducted to assess whether treatment with ADVAIR™ DISKUS™ 100/50 mcg is more effective at reducing the risk of exacerbation and the asthma impairment associated with viral respiratory tract infections during the fall season when compared to treatment with FLOVENT™ DISKUS™ 100 mcg.

Study ADA113872 will assess the ability of ADVAIR™ DISKUS™ 100/50 mcg, in comparison to FLOVENT™ DISKUS™ 100 mcg, to reduce worsening asthma associated with viral respiratory infections during the fall season in a pediatric population. A number of descriptive measures will be used to assess the reduction in worsening asthma. These include the number of exacerbations, the duration and severity of asthma symptoms in the 7 days following the report of moderate upper respiratory tract symptoms or worsening asthma, the number of rescue-free days, and the rate of asthma control days.

Subjects will be identified starting in April 2010 to evaluate whether they meet the eligibility criteria. If a subject is identified as a potential candidate for the study they will be requested to return to the clinic between August 2, 2010 and August 20, 2010. Subjects who meet all inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria will be entered into the study. All subjects must be randomized on or before August 20th, 2010.

Subjects will be males and females who are between the ages of 4 and 11 years (as of randomization date) with a documented diagnosis of asthma requiring ICS monotherapy controller medication or low dose ICS as part of combination controller medication. In order for a subject on moderate dose ICS or low dose ICS + LABA combination therapy to be eligible for inclusion in this study their asthma must be under control for the 3 months prior to randomization and they must be a candidate for step-down therapy as outlined by current asthma management guidelines.

All subjects must have a history of one or more exacerbations during the previous respiratory viral season that required the use of outpatient oral/parenteral corticosteroid or an urgent care, Emergency Department visit hospitalization, or for asthma that required the use of oral/parenteral corticosteroid.

Subjects will receive their study medication at the Randomization visit and be instructed to keep an electronic daily record of AM PEF, asthma symptoms, night-time awakenings due to asthma, rescue use, and upper respiratory tract infection symptoms.

During the double-blind treatment period the electronic Diary (eDiary) will alert the subject or parent/legal guardian when the data imputed into the eDiary indicates the presence of upper respiratory symptoms of moderate or severe severity or if the subject has reached the criteria for worsening asthma. Upon receipt of either of these alerts, the subject or parent/legal guardian will be instructed to call the clinic. The clinic will instruct the subject (parent/legal guardian) to provide a mucus sample for assessment of viral respiratory infection. Mucus samples for viral respiratory assessment will not be collected from subjects more than once in a 7 day period. During the randomization visit subjects will receive training on the at home collection of a mucus sample.

Throughout the study each subject will be instructed to rate their daily upper respiratory symptoms. Upper respiratory tract symptoms include: runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and sore throat. Subjects will be instructed to select a rating from the following list that best describes their aggregate upper respiratory symptoms during the previous 24 hours.

This study will evaluate the effects of the ADVAIR™ DISKUS™ 100/50 mcg and FLOVENT™ DISKUS™ 100 mcg on clinical parameters and indices of airway inflammation associated with viral respiratory tract infections in pediatric asthmatic subjects. Safety will be assessed by monitoring adverse events.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Outpatient
* Subjects must be between the ages of 4 and 11 at Randomization
* Subjects must attend day-care, pre-school, elementary school, or middle school. Day-care attendance is defined as receiving childcare outside the home for at least 10 hours per week. Children who are home-schooled are not eligible for this study. Children on year round and traditional school calendars are eligible for this study.
* Subjects can be randomized into this study at any time between August 2nd, 2010 and August 20th, 2010.
* Males or pre-menarchal females.
* A diagnosis of asthma, as defined by the National Institutes of Health \[NIH, 2007\]
* At Visit 1 subjects must demonstrate a best clinic AM PEF ≥70% of the predicted value \[Polgar, 1971\].
* Each subject must have a history of an exacerbation of asthma between September 1st, 2009 and May 15th, 2010 that required a burst of outpatient systemic corticosteroids (oral or parenteral on \>1 days for worsening symptoms of asthma) or have had an urgent care, hospitalization, or ED visit for asthma during which they received oral/parenteral corticosteroids between September 1st, 2009 and May 15th, 2010.
* Subjects must have prior or current use of controller ICS medication as listed below:
* Subjects who have had prior use of a controller medication consisting of a low dose ICS at any time since September 1st, 2009 are eligible for inclusion in this study (refer to Table 1 for examples of allowed doses of commonly used ICS).
* Subjects currently taking a low dose ICS are eligible for inclusion in the study (refer to Table 1 for examples of allowed doses of commonly used ICS).
* Subjects' currently taking a moderate dose ICS are eligible for inclusion in the study if the subject's asthma has been controlled over the prior 3 months and the subject is a candidate for step down therapy, as defined by current asthma management guidelines \[NIH, 2007\].
* Subjects' currently taking low dose ICS in combination with a LABA are eligible for inclusion in the study if the subject's asthma has been controlled over the prior 3 months and the subject is a candidate for step down therapy, as defined by current asthma management guidelines \[NIH, 2007\].
* All subjects must be able to replace their short-acting beta2-agonists with study-issued albuterol inhalation aerosol at Visit 1 for use as needed for the duration of the study. If a subject demonstrates the inability to coordinate the use of an MDI alone, subjects are permitted to use an Aerochamber Plus spacer. The use or non-use of a spacer for albuterol inhalation aerosol should be consistent for each subject throughout the study. Subjects must be able to withhold inhaled albuterol for at least 6 hours prior to study Visits
* Chickenpox: Reported history of clinical varicella or varicella vaccine. If a subject needs varicella vaccine this will be arranged with a physician and must be received prior to randomization.
* Electronic Peak Flow Meter (ePEF)/Electronic Daily Diary (eDiary): A subject must be able to use the study-provided electronic peak flow meter and the subject/caregiver must be able to enter data using the electronic Diary record.
* Responsibilities of Consenting Parent/Legal Guardian: The subject's parent or legal guardian must commit to assist the subject at a consistent level with administration of investigational product and electronic Diary device and electronic PEF meter throughout the study.
* A subject must demonstrate adequate and appropriate technique for using the DISKUS™ device reliably.
* Fluency in English or USA Spanish: Subject and/or subject's parent/guardian must be able to read, comprehend, and record information in English or USA Spanish.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of Life Threatening Asthma
* Unstable Asthma
* Concomitant use of corticosteroid medication
* Other Concurrent Diseases/Abnormalities: The known presence of sinus, middle ear, oropharyngeal, upper or lower respiratory tract infections within 4 weeks immediately preceding randomization that required the use of an antibiotic or was accompanied by symptoms of worsening asthma.
* Concomitant Medications: Administration of any other prescription or over the counter medication which would significantly affect the course of asthma, such as omalizumab (Xolair), or interact with sympathomimetic amines, such as: anticonvulsants (barbiturates, hydantoins, carbamazepine), polycyclic antidepressants, beta-adrenergic blocking agents (both cardio-selective and non-selective), phenothiazines,
* Cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP 3A4) Inhibitors: A subject is not eligible if he/she is receiving a strong CYP 3A4 inhibitor within 4 weeks of Visit 1 (e.g., ritonavir, ketoconazole, itraconazole).
* Immunosuppressive medications: A subject must not be using or require use of immunosuppressive medications (e.g. methotrexate, gold, cyclosporine, azathioprine) during the study.

Note: Immunotherapy for the treatment of allergies is allowed during the study provided it was initiated 4 weeks prior to Visit 1 and the subject remains in the maintenance phase for the duration of the study.

* Concurrent Respiratory Disease: A subject must not have current evidence of pneumonia, pneumothorax, atelectasis, pulmonary fibrotic disease, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cystic fibrosis, dyspnea by any cause other than asthma, or other respiratory abnormalities other than asthma.
* Other Concurrent Diseases/Abnormalities: Historical or current evidence of clinically significant uncontrolled disease that in the opinion of the investigator would put the safety of the subject at risk through study participation or would confound the interpretation of the results if the condition/disease exacerbated during the study.

The list of additional excluded conditions/diseases includes, but is not limited to the following:

Uncontrolled hypertension; Uncontrolled hematologic, hepatic, neurologic, or renal disease Uncontrolled gastroesophageal reflux disease, Immunologic compromise, Cardiac arrhythmias, Tuberculosis (current or untreated), Congestive heart failure, Cushing's disease Coronary artery disease, Addison's disease, Current malignancy, Eosinophilic esophagitis Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, Uncontrolled thyroid disorder

* Severe Hypersensitivity to Milk Proteins: Any immediate hypersensitivity reaction, such as urticaria, angioedema, rash, and bronchospasm to milk proteins
* Drug Allergy: Any adverse reaction including immediate or delayed hypersensitivity to any beta2-agonist, sympathomimetic drug, or any intranasal, inhaled or systemic corticosteroid therapy. Known or suspected sensitivity to the constituents of the Dry Powder Inhaler (i.e., lactose).
* Tobacco Use: A history of or present use of any tobacco products.
* Investigational Medications: A subject must not have participated in a study (including a non-interventional study) or used any investigational drug (including devices) within 30 days prior to Visit 1 or within ten half-lives (t1/2) of the prior investigational study (whichever is longer of the two).
* Child in Care: A Child in Care (CiC) is a child who has been placed under the control or protection of an agency, organisation, institution or entity by the courts, the government or a government body, acting in accordance with powers conferred on them by law or regulation. The definition of a CiC can include a child cared for by foster parents or living in a care home or institution, provided that the arrangement falls within the definition above. The determination of whether a child meets the definition of CiC should be made with the study centre staff in consultation with the responsible IRB/Ethics Committee.
* Affiliation with Investigator's Site: A subject is an immediate family member of the participating investigator, sub investigator, study coordinator, or employee of the participating investigator.