Treatment With Omalizumab to Improve the Asthmatic Response to Rhinovirus Experimental Infection With Rhinovirus

Population surveys have shown a positive correlation between increased levels of total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and bronchial hyperreactivity. However, it is also clear that exacerbations of asthma are frequently triggered by viral respiratory tract infections, especially those caused by human rhinovirus (RV), also known as the "common cold" virus. This protocol explores the relationship between rhinovirus and allergen/IgE provoked inflammation. Experimental challenges with human (RV) result in more persistent upper respiratory tract symptom scores in asthmatics than in controls. Asthmatics with high levels of IgE also show greater sensitivity to methacholine and higher levels of expired nitric oxide (eNO) than those with low levels of IgE. These data suggest that patients with asthma and high levels of IgE are more likely to have pre-existing inflammation of the airways before virus challenge. This study is being done to determine whether anti-IgE therapy (with omalizumab) will lead to a significant decline in inflammatory biomarkers prior to virus inoculation, and thus reduce the severity of clinical manifestations after an experimental human RV challenge.

The study is a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study involving a group of 42 mild asthmatics. Subjects will be randomized 1:1 to omalizumab (a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE antibody) or placebo for 8 weeks and then inoculated with rhinovirus (strain-16 produced under GMP conditions and approved for this research by the FDA). Clinical and laboratory (mechanistic) data will be evaluated for 8 weeks before and for 4 weeks after the virus challenge.

The study is being done to test the hypothesis that the reduction of total free IgE in asthmatics treated with omalizumab for 8 weeks prior to and during an experimental RV challenge will lead to a significant decline in lower respiratory tract (chest) symptoms recorded by subjects during the first four days of infection following the challenge compared to lower respiratory tract symptoms recorded during the same period by asthmatic subjects who are treated with placebo.

The primary endpoint will be based on the comparison of cumulative lower respiratory tract symptoms scores (CLRTS) in the asthmatic subjects treated with omalizumab compared to those treated with placebo over the first 4 days of acute infection. Diary cards will be scored daily for cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort and wheezing using a modification of the Jackson criteria. To participate in this study, subjects must live within 90 minutes by car from the University of Virginia.

Note: This protocol has been reviewed and is being monitored for safety by the NIH/NIAID Safety Monitoring Committee and by he IRB at the University of Virginia (IRB-HSR# 14427).

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Subjects must be able to understand and provide written informed consent
* Age 18 to 40 years of age, any gender, any racial/ethnic origin
* Physician-diagnosed asthma
* Asthma Control Test (ACT) score \> 19
* Short-acting beta-agonist use \< daily in last 4 weeks
* Forced expired volume at 1 second (FEV1) \> 70%, or FEV1/FVC ratio \> 75% for subjects with forced vital capacity (FVC) values between 80 and 87% predicted whose FEV1 values fall below 70%.
* Positive Methacholine challenge test (i.e. at least 20% fall in FEV1 at a Methacholine concentration of ≤16 mg/ml) at screening protocol before enrollment.
* Total serum IgE level greater than or equal to 125 IU/ml evaluated during screening protocol.
* Positive test for allergic sensitization by prick skin testing documented during screening protocol. to allergens associated with current allergen exposure at the time of the rhinovirus (RV) challenge: e.g., dust mite, Alternaria, and/or ragweed for subjects challenged with RV in the fall, or positive tests to tree and/or grass pollen allergens for those challenged with RV in the spring. In keeping with the study design goals of inoculating subjects during periods of allergen exposure, sensitization to other allergens (e.g., cat or dog) will also qualify for enrollment if subjects are currently exposed to these allergens at home.

Participant must be willing to comply with study procedures and requirements.

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Exclusion Criteria:

* Inability or unwillingness of a participant or subject's legal representative to give written informed consent and HIPPA authorization
* Positive test for serum neutralizing antibody to rhinovirus (strain-16) at screening within 6 weeks (i.e., subjects with a neutralizing antibody titer \> 1:4 will be excluded).
* To avoid RV-16 inoculations in subjects with more restrictive lung volumes, those whose FVC is \< 80% predicted will also be excluded.
* Total IgE levels measured at screening protocol that are too elevated based on a subjects weight, to meet the recommendations for treatment with Omalizumab.
* Chronic heart disease, lung diseases other than asthma, or other chronic illnesses, including primary and/or secondary immunodeficiency.

Hospitalization or treatment in the ER for asthma (unless the treatment involved the use of a bronchodilator only) during the last three years.

* Subjects who have had one or more night time awakenings caused by asthma symptoms and/or who have needed their short acting beta-2 agonist (SABA; e.g., albuterol) inhaler for asthma symptoms \> 4 days during the week before enrollment, or during the week before the virus challenge.
* Intubation or management in the intensive care unit for an asthma exacerbation
* An upper or lower respiratory tract infection within six weeks prior to enrollment
* Previous nasal or sinus surgery within the last 12 months.
* Who have a 5 pack/year history of smoking, or any smoking within the last 6 months.
* Female subjects who are, or who plan to become, pregnant during the study, or who are nursing a baby. Additionally, to be included in this study, a woman of child-bearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening, during the run, and prior to viral inoculation and agree to use an effective method of birth control such as, but not limited to, birth control pills, contraceptive foam, diaphragm, intra uterine device (IUD), abstinence, or condoms.
* Subjects who have used omalizumab within 12 months prior to enrollment, or inhaled corticosteroids,inhaled ipratropium bromide, an inhaled long acting beta agonist, inhaled cromolyn or nedocromil or systemic leukotriene modifiers for their asthma on a daily basis within 4 weeks prior to enrollment or subjects using nasal corticosteroids on a daily basis within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. Subjects who are currently receiving beta-adrenergic blocking agents.
* Subjects who are currently receiving allergen immunotherapy (IT), or who have received allergen IT within the last 3 years.
* Hemoglobin \<11.5 g/dL for non-African American subjects or hemoglobin \< 11.0 g/dL for African American subjects detected during screening within 6 weeks of enrollment.
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 1800 cells/mm3 (or 1.8 K/uL) detected during screening within 6 weeks of enrollment or prior to virus inoculation.