Objective. To assess the efficacy and safety of rilonacept (Interleukin-1 [IL-1] Trap), a long-acting and potent inhibitor of IL-1, in patients with cryopyrinassociated periodic syndromes (CAPS), including familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome (FCAS) and Muckle-Wells syndrome (MWS).Methods. Forty-seven adult patients with CAPS, as defined by mutations in the causative NLRP3 (CIAS1) gene and pathognomonic symptoms, were enrolled in 2 consecutive phase III studies. Study 1 involved a 6-week randomized double-blind comparison of weekly subcutaneous injections of rilonacept (160 mg) versus placebo. Study 2 consisted of 9 weeks of single-blind treatment with rilonacept (part A), followed by a 9-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled withdrawal procedure (part B). Primary efficacy was evaluated using a validated composite key symptom score.Results. Forty-four patients completed both studies. In study 1, rilonacept therapy reduced the group mean composite symptom score by 84%, compared with 13% with placebo therapy (primary end point; P < 0.0001 versus placebo). Rilonacept also significantly improved all other efficacy end points in study 1 (numbers of multisymptom and single-symptom disease flare days, single-symptom scores, physician's and patient's global assessments of disease activity, limitations in daily activities, and C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A [SAA] levels). In study 2 part B, rilonacept was superior to placebo for maintaining the improvements seen with rilonacept therapy, as shown by all efficacy parameters (primary end point; P < 0.0001 versus placebo). Rilonacept was generally well tolerated; the most common adverse events were injection site reactions.Conclusion. Treatment with weekly rilonacept provided marked and lasting improvement in the clinical signs and symptoms of CAPS, and normalized the levels of SAA from those associated with risk of developing amyloidosis. Rilonacept exhibited a generally favorable safety and tolerability profile.Cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS) are a group of inherited inflammatory disorClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00288704.

Protocol 012 Investigators (2020). Gefapixant, a P2X3 receptor antagonist, for the treatment of refractory or unexplained chronic cough: a randomised, double-blind, controlled, parallel-group, phase 2b trial. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine.

No abstract

No abstract

Long-term treatment with rilonacept of up to 96 weeks resulted in improvements in clinical signs and symptoms of CAPS and normalized biomarkers of inflammation. Rilonacept exhibited a generally favorable safety and tolerability profile in adult and pediatric patients with CAPS throughout the extended treatment period. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT 00288704.

Background: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of MP-AzeFlu (a novel intranasal formulation of azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate in a single spray) in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and explore the importance of child symptom severity assessment in paediatric allergic rhinitis (AR) trials. Methods: A total of 348 children (4-11 years) with moderate/severe SAR were randomized into a double-blind, placebo-controlled, 14-day, parallel-group trial. Efficacy was assessed by changes from baseline in reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS), reflective total ocular symptom score (rTOSS) and individual symptom scores over 14 days (children 6-11 years; n = 304), recorded by either children or caregivers. To determine whether a by-proxy effect existed, efficacy outcomes were assessed according to degree of child/caregiver rating. Moreover, total Paediatric Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) score was compared between the groups. Results: A statistically superior, clinically relevant efficacy signal of MP-AzeFlu versus placebo was apparent for PRQLQ overall score (diff: À0.29, 95% CI À0.55, À0.03; p = 0.027), but not for rTNSS (diff: À0.80; 95% CI: À1.75; 0.15; p = 0.099). However, as the extent of children's self-rating increased, so too did the treatment difference between MP-AzeFlu and placebo; MP-AzeFlu provided significantly better relief than placebo for rTNSS (p = 0.002), rTOSS (p = 0.009) and each individual nasal and ocular symptom assessed (except rhinorrhoea; p = 0.064) when children mostly rated their own symptoms. Conclusions: MP-AzeFlu is an effective treatment for AR in childhood. Caregivers are less able than children to accurately assess response to treatment with available tools. A simple paediatric-specific tool to assess efficacy in AR trials in children is needed.

Background: GSP301 nasal spray is a fixed-dose combination of olopatadine hydrochloride (antihistamine) and mometasone furoate (corticosteroid). Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of GSP301 in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR). Methods: In this double-blind study, eligible patients (!12 years of age) with SAR were randomized 1:1:1:1 to twice-daily GSP301 (665 mg of olopatadine and 25 mg of mometasone), olopatadine (665 mg), mometasone (25 mg), or placebo for 14 days. The primary end pointdmean change from baseline in average morning and evening 12-hour reflective Total Nasal Symptom Score (rTNSS)dwas analyzed via a mixed-effect model repeated measures (P < .05 was considered to be statistically significant). Additional assessments included average morning and evening 12-hour instantaneous TNSS (iTNSS), ocular symptoms, individual symptoms, onset of action, quality of life, and adverse events (AEs). Results: A total of 1176 patients were randomized. GSP301 provided statistically significant and clinically meaningful rTNSS improvements vs placebo (least squares mean difference,-1.09; 95% CI,-1.49 to-0.69; P < .001) and vs olopatadine (P ¼ .03) and mometasone (P ¼ .02). Similar significant improvements in iTNSS were also observed with GSP301 (P < .05 for all). Furthermore, GSP301 significantly improved overall ocular symptoms, individual nasal and ocular symptoms, and quality of life vs placebo (P .001 for all). Onset of action for GSP301 was observed within 15 minutes and was maintained at all subsequent timepoints. Treatment-emergent AEs occurred in 15.6%, 12.6%, 9.6%, and 9.5% of patients in the GSP301, olopatadine, mometasone, and placebo groups, respectively. Conclusion: GSP301 is efficacious and well tolerated vs placebo for treating SAR-associated nasal and ocular symptoms, with a rapid onset of action of 15 minutes in adult and adolescent patients 12 years and older. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02870205.

Nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis are an important cause of sleep disturbance. Reduction of nasal symptoms, particularly nasal obstruction, has been linked to improvements in self-reported sleep quality. The enhanced-affinity intranasal corticosteroid fluticasone furoate and the oral antihistamine fexofenadine were compared with respect to nighttime symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis. In two randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group studies, patients received fluticasone furoate nasal spray (FFNS),110 microg (study 1, n = 312; study 2, n = 224); fexofenadine, 180 mg (study 1, n = 311; study 2, n = 227); or placebo (study 1, n = 313; study 2, n = 229) once daily for 2 weeks. Fluticasone furoate was more effective (p < 0.001) than fexofenadine and placebo in both studies with respect to the mean changes from baseline over the treatment period in the nighttime symptoms score, nighttime reflective total nasal symptom score, predose instantaneous nasal symptom score, and morning peak nasal inspiratory flow. Fluticasone furoate was more effective than placebo (p