Assessing airway twitchiness in patients with severe asthma on biologics as they reduce their inhaled corticosteriod dose

ISRCTN ISRCTN37454686
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN37454686
IRAS number 346249
Secondary identifying numbers 2-071-24
Submission date
15/07/2025
Registration date
16/07/2025
Last edited
16/07/2025
Recruitment status
Recruiting
Overall study status
Ongoing
Condition category
Respiratory
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Asthma is a common lung condition that makes breathing difficult, especially when the airways become sensitive or "twitchy" in response to things like dust or pollen. This twitchiness is linked to a type of inflammation in the lungs called type 2 inflammation. People with this kind of asthma often have higher levels of certain markers in their blood and breath.

Asthma is usually treated with inhalers that contain steroids, but these don’t always reach the smallest parts of the lungs. Newer treatments called biologics, which are given by injection, can reach these areas and may help reduce inflammation more effectively.

This study aims to find out whether two commonly used biologic medications, dupilumab and tezepelumab, can reduce airway twitchiness enough that patients can safely lower their dose of steroid inhalers without losing control of their asthma.

Who can participate?
The study is for adults with severe asthma who are already being treated with either dupilumab or tezepelumab.

What does the study involve?
Participants will use a standard steroid inhaler in a specific way called maintenance and reliever therapy. They will attend three study visits over six months, including a screening visit. They will provide blood samples to measure inflammation markers and take breathing tests to check lung function, including a special test to measure how twitchy the airways are.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Benefits may include better understanding and management of asthma, and possibly reducing the steroid dose safely. Risks include side effects from reducing steroid use, such as worsening asthma symptoms. There are also known side effects from long-term use of high-dose steroid inhalers, which this study hopes to help reduce. Blood tests and breathing tests may cause minor discomfort.

Where is the study run from?
The study is being run at the Scottish Centre of Respiratory Medicine, based at the University of Dundee’s Ninewells campus (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
May 2024 to August 2026

Who is funding the study?
Investigator initiated and funded

Who is the main contact?
Professor Brian Lipworth, b.j.lipworth@dundee.ac.uk

Contact information

Prof Brian Lipworth
Principal Investigator

Scottish Centre for Respiratory Research Mailbox 2
Molecular & Clinical Medicine School of Medicine
University of Dundee Ninewells Hospital
Dundee
DD1 9SY
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-8140-2014
Phone +44 1382383188
Email b.j.lipworth@dundee.ac.uk
Dr Robert Greig
Public, Scientific

Scottish Centre for Respiratory Research Mailbox 2
Molecular & Clinical Medicine School of Medicine
University of Dundee Ninewells Hospital
Dundee
DD1 9SY
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0001-7668-286X
Phone +44 1382383188
Email rgreig001@dundee.ac.uk

Study information

Study designPhase IV single arm open labelled
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designNon randomised study
Study setting(s)Home, Hospital
Study typeQuality of life, Treatment
Participant information sheet 47674 Participant Information Sheet 30.06.25 V3 marked.pdf
Scientific titleTailoring Inhaled Corticosteroids in patients with Severe Asthma taking Biologics
Study acronymTICSAB
Study objectives1. To characterize the effect of tapering inhaled corticosteroids on mannitol airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with severe asthma taking dupilumab or Tezepelumab
2. Assess the effects of taking dupilumab or tezepelumab on small airways dysfunction using airways oscillometry.
3. To characterise symptom control and quality of life scores as participants adjust their inhaled corticosteroid dose.
4. To assess type 2 inflammation in as participants adjust their inhaled corticosteroid dose.
Ethics approval(s)

Approved 08/07/2025, East of Scotland Research Ethics Service (EoSRES) (Tayside Medical Science Centre, Residency Block Level 3, George Pirie Way, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, Dundee, DD1 9SY, United Kingdom; +44 1382660111; tay.eosres@nhs.scot), ref: 25/ES/0043

Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSevere asthma patient on either dupilumab or tezepelumab
InterventionParticipants will already be established on asthma biologic medications (either dupilumab or tezepelumab). Will will be on maximal maintenance and reliever inhaled therapy (Fostair NEXTHaler 100/6 4 puffs BD) and reduce their MART dose as able during the study (between 2 and 8 puffs daily) over a 6 month period. They will undergo airway oscillometry, spirometry, mannitol challenge, blood tests, FeNO and questionnaires to assess symptom control and quality of life at 3 visits (including a screening visit).
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureMannitol airway hyperresponsiveness measured using change in mannitol PD10 from Visit 1 (post-run-in baseline) to Visit 2 (6 months)
Secondary outcome measures1. Blood eosinophil count is measured using automated haematology analyser at post-run-in baseline and 6 months
2. Total serum IgE is measured using immunoassay (e.g. ImmunoCAP) at post-run-in baseline and 6 months
3. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is measured using a FeNO analyser (e.g. NIOX VERO) at post-run-in baseline and 6 months
4. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of FVC (FEF25–75), and forced vital capacity (FVC) are measured using spirometry at post-run-in baseline and 6 months
5. Airway resistance (R5–R20) and reactance area (AX) are measured using impulse oscillometry at post-run-in baseline and 6 months
6. Airway hyperresponsiveness is measured using mannitol challenge test with PD15 as the outcome at 6 months
7. Airway reactance area (AX) is measured using impulse oscillometry at post-run-in baseline and 6 months
Overall study start date01/05/2024
Completion date01/08/2026

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
Upper age limit100 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants46
Total final enrolment46
Key inclusion criteria1. Any patient over 18 years of age with severe asthma taking dupilumab or tezepelumab for severe asthma for at least 6 months
2. FEV1 ≥50% at baseline
Key exclusion criteria1. Any patients on maintenance oral steroids or required an oral steroid burst in the past 28 days
2. Any patient who was switched from another biologic in the past 3 months
3. Any other respiratory condition such as moderate to severe bronchiectasis or COPD
4. Currently pregnant
Date of first enrolment01/08/2025
Date of final enrolment10/01/2026

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Scotland
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Ninewells Hospital and University of Dundee Medical school
Ninewells Avenue
Dundee
DD1 9SY
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

TASC - University of Dundee/NHS Tayside
University/education

Tayside Medical Science Centre, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School
Research & Development Office Residency Block, Level 3, George Pirie Way
Dundee
DD1 9SY
Scotland
United Kingdom

Phone +44 1382383297
Email tascgovernance@dundee.ac.uk
Website https://www.dundee.ac.uk/tasc

Funders

Funder type

Other

Investigator initiated and funded

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/08/2027
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available on request from Prof Brian Lipworth (b.j.lipworth@dundee.ac.uk)

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet version 3 30/06/2025 16/07/2025 No Yes
Protocol file version 2 30/06/2025 16/07/2025 No No

Additional files

47674 Participant Information Sheet 30.06.25 V3 marked.pdf
47674 TICSAB Protocol V2 30.06.25_.pdf

Editorial Notes

15/07/2025: Trial's existence confirmed by East of Scotland Research Ethics Service (EoSRES).