PA9159 inhaler versus fluticasone for adults with bronchial asthma

A Phase 2 Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of PA9159 Inhalation Aerosol for the Treatment of Adult Bronchial Asthma

We will test whether the new PA9159 inhaler is safe and works as well as fluticasone for adults with bronchial asthma.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 30 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 75 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Anhui Palo Alto Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Industry-sponsored)
• Locations: 1 site (Nanchang, Jiangxi)
• Trial ID: NCT07324707 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This single-center, randomized, open-label, active-controlled Phase 2 trial will enroll 30 adults with bronchial asthma and randomize them 1:1 to receive PA9159 inhaler 120 μg daily or fluticasone propionate inhalation aerosol 200 μg daily for 28 days. The study spans approximately 42 days including screening, baseline, treatment observation, and follow-up, and will collect safety, efficacy (including lung function) and population pharmacokinetic data. Investigators will compare clinical responses and adverse events between the two groups and characterize PA9159 exposure across participants. The trial is conducted at The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University in Nanchang, Jiangxi.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults 18–75 years with a physician diagnosis of bronchial asthma, pre-randomization FEV1 60%–85% predicted, and documented variable airflow limitation or a positive bronchodilator response are the intended participants.

Not a fit: People with severe or unstable asthma, FEV1 outside the 60%–85% predicted range, recent asthma exacerbations, chronic systemic steroid use, or inability to attend the single study site are unlikely to benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If PA9159 is safe and effective, it may offer an alternative inhaled corticosteroid with comparable or improved asthma control and a clearer pharmacokinetic profile.

How similar studies have performed: Established inhaled corticosteroids like fluticasone have proven benefit in asthma, but PA9159 is a novel corticosteroid and lacks large-scale clinical data so far.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Aged 18 to 75 years inclusive, regardless of gender;
* According to the definition in the Chinese "Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma (2020 Edition)," subjects diagnosed with bronchial asthma, including those with an initial diagnosis of asthma, or those diagnosed with asthma during childhood or adolescence with stable condition who have not received long-term treatment but exhibit significantly more pronounced symptoms in adulthood and/or recently compared to the past;
* Pre-randomization, pulmonary function tests show 60% ≤ FEV1% predicted ≤ 85%;
* Any objective test result indicating variable airflow limitation conducted within 1 year prior to screening is positive, or the bronchodilator test during the screening period is positive, i.e., an increase in FEV1 ≥ 12% and an absolute increase in FEV1 ≥ 200 mL 15-30 minutes after inhaling 400 μg salbutamol (if the bronchodilator test result does not meet the positive threshold, a repeat bronchodilator test is allowed within 14 days after the test \[excluding the test day\]); or the bronchial provocation test is positive, i.e., a decrease in FEV1 ≥ 20% after inhaling a provocant (methacholine or histamine); or the average daily diurnal variability of peak expiratory flow (PEF) (calculated as the sum of daily PEF diurnal variability over 7 consecutive days divided by 7) \> 10%;
* Voluntarily sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects who are unable to correctly use a nebulizer, cannot tolerate nebulized inhalation administration, or fail inhalation administration training;
* Subjects with other pulmonary diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis, tuberculosis, etc., for which, in the investigator's judgment, asthma remains the dominant condition;
* Coexistence of other clinically significant conditions that may affect lung function, including but not limited to pleural diseases, mediastinal diseases, diaphragmatic disorders, myasthenia, thoracic deformities, etc.;
* History of severe cardiovascular diseases, such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, uncontrolled hypertension (resting seated systolic blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 100 mmHg on two or more consecutive measurements), etc., which, in the investigator's judgment, would put the subject at risk or may affect the interpretation of study results;
* Subjects with hyperthyroidism, assessed by the investigator as unsuitable for participation in this trial;
* History of severe hematologic, hepatic, psychiatric, renal, or other diseases that, in the investigator's judgment, would put the subject at risk or may affect the interpretation of study results;
* History of malignancy within the past five years (excluding cured cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, thyroid cancer, or basal cell carcinoma of the skin diagnosed and cured within 5 years);
* Subjects who have undergone or are expected to undergo solid organ or bone marrow transplantation within the next year;
* Hypokalemia (serum potassium \< 3.5 mmol/L during screening);
* Type I diabetes or poorly controlled Type II diabetes (fasting blood glucose \> 11.1 mmol/L during screening);
* Known or pre-randomization examination revealing oral, pharyngeal, or esophageal candidiasis;
* Abnormal liver or kidney function during screening (ALT and/or AST \> 2× upper limit of normal; Scr \> 1.5× upper limit of normal);
* Positive hepatitis B surface antigen or hepatitis B core antibody with HBV DNA ≥ 2000 IU/mL, positive hepatitis C antibody with HCV RNA ≥ 1000 IU/mL, positive human immunodeficiency virus antibody, or history of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome;
* Known allergy to any component of inhaled corticosteroids or salbutamol preparations;
* Respiratory tract infection, sinus infection, or acute otitis media within 4 weeks before screening or during the run-in period, which, in the investigator's judgment, would lead to changes in asthma treatment or affect the subject's asthma status;
* Asthma exacerbation requiring systemic corticosteroid treatment within 4 weeks before screening or during the run-in period, or asthma requiring oral corticosteroid therapy, or other conditions requiring systemic corticosteroid treatment;
* Use of strong CYP3A4 enzyme inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, ketoconazole, telithromycin, etc.) within 4 weeks before dosing, or need for concomitant use of strong CYP3A4 inhibitors during the trial;
* Smoking cessation \< 1 year at screening (including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, e-cigarettes, etc.), or previous smoking history \> 10 pack-years \[pack-years = number of packs per day × years of smoking, where 1 pack = 20 cigarettes\];
* History of drug abuse, substance abuse, or alcoholism within 2 years before screening \[alcoholism defined as average daily alcohol intake \> 2 units (1 unit = 360 mL beer, or 45 mL of 40% alcohol liquor, or 150 mL wine)\];
* Pregnant or lactating women, or women planning pregnancy during the trial;
* Subjects who have participated in other clinical trials within 1 month before screening;
* Any other reason considered by the investigator to make the subject unsuitable for participation in the trial.

Where this trial is running

Nanchang, Jiangxi

• The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University — Nanchang, Jiangxi, China (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Wei Zuo — The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University
• Study coordinator: Mengli Kan

Conditions Bronchial Asthma