U01AI155299

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist treatment in adult, obesity-related, symptomatic asthma - Project Summary

Obesity is clearly detrimental in asthma, yet we lack tools to treat the unique obese asthma phenotype. Comorbid obesity impacts over 40% of adult asthmatics and increases asthma severity, symptoms, and exacerbations while simultaneously reducing the efficacy of conventional therapies. Our long-term goal is to develop novel treatments for airway inflammation in the obese asthma phenotype.

Our overall objective, which is the next step in translating our preclinical and preliminary clinical findings, is to determine the impact of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) on asthma control and airway and adipose inflammation in adults with obese asthma. Our central hypothesis is that GLP-1RA improve asthma control and reduce airway inflammation due to direct effects on the respiratory tract in obese asthma.

To generate the proof-of-concept data to support definitive Phase 3 clinical trials of GLP-1RA in the obese asthma phenotype and test our central hypothesis, we propose the following specific aims:

1) Determine the efficacy of GLP-1RA on asthma control and assess tolerability in obese asthma.
2) Determine the tissue-specific impact of GLP-1RA on inflammation in the airway and adipose in obese asthma.

In a 12-week double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of oral semaglutide 7 mg once daily in adult subjects with obesity-related, symptomatic asthma without DMII, we will test the hypotheses that semaglutide improves asthma control (Aim 1A), is tolerated (Aim 1B), and reduces type-2 and non-type 2 airway inflammation independent of weight loss (Aim 2). The primary clinical outcome will be change from baseline in ACQ-7. The primary mechanistic outcome will be change from baseline in serum periostin.

Because insulin resistance is variable in obesity and baseline blood eosinophil counts are often predictive of response to asthma therapeutics, these markers will be used for prespecified subgroup analyses. Subcutaneous abdominal adipose and respiratory tract samples at baseline and 5 and 12 weeks of therapy will be compared using RNA sequencing to test the hypothesis that GLP-1RA reduce inflammation to restore homeostasis in the respiratory tract opposite to changes in adipose tissue in obese asthma.

This proposal facilitates the collection of the necessary clinical, mechanistic, and tolerability data to inform the design of a definitive Phase III clinical trial of a GLP-1RA in asthma. It thereby supports the rapid development of a novel therapeutic class for asthma and represents a paradigm shift in the approach to therapeutic intervention in asthma through the targeting of a metabolic pathway which regulates upstream inflammation across multiple organ systems, may be disease modifying, and ultimately glucocorticoid sparing.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

TO ASSIST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS AND INDIVIDUALS TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND AND IMPROVE BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS, TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS. TO ASSIST PUBLIC, PRIVATE AND COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS TO CONDUCT DEVELOPMENTAL RESEARCH, TO PRODUCE AND TEST RESEARCH MATERIALS, TO PROVIDE RESEARCH SERVICES AS REQUIRED BY THE AGENCY FOR PROGRAMS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, AND CONTROLLING DISEASE CAUSED BY INFECTIOUS OR PARASITIC AGENTS, ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES AND RELATED AREAS. PROJECTS RANGE FROM STUDIES OF MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY AND ANTIGENIC STRUCTURE TO COLLABORATIVE TRIALS OF EXPERIMENTAL DRUGS AND VACCINES, MECHANISMS OF RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS AS WELL AS RESEARCH DEALING WITH EPIDEMIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS OR COMMUNITY POPULATIONS AND PROGRESS IN ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISEASES. BECAUSE OF THIS DUAL FOCUS, THE PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES BOTH BASIC RESEARCH AND CLINICAL RESEARCH. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM EXPANDS AND IMPROVES PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION IN BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH. THE SBIR PROGRAM INTENDS TO INCREASE AND FACILITATE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM STIMULATES AND FOSTERS SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. RESEARCH CAREER DEVELOPMENT AWARDS SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTISTS DURING THE FORMATIVE STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS. INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS (NRSAS) ARE MADE DIRECTLY TO APPROVE APPLICANTS FOR RESEARCH TRAINING IN SPECIFIED BIOMEDICAL SHORTAGE AREAS. IN ADDITION, INSTITUTIONAL NATIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE AWARDS ARE MADE TO ENABLE INSTITUTIONS TO SELECT AND MAKE AWARDS TO INDIVIDUALS TO RECEIVE TRAINING UNDER THE AEGIS OF THEIR INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAM.

93.855 - Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) [HHS - NIH]

Nashville, Tennessee 37203 United States

Single Zip Code

NIAID Clinical Trial Implementation Cooperative Agreement (U01 Clinical Trial Required) (PAR-18-633)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 443% from $1,583,667 to $8,604,388.