Dose escalation clinical trial of high-dose oral montelukast to inform future RCT in children with acute asthma exacerbations

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville TN

Investigators

Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY The goal of this R34 proposal and the future R61/R33-funded RCT is to decrease the severity of moderate and severe acute asthma exacerbations in children, sufficiently and quickly enough to decrease hospitalizations. These hospitalizations disproportionately affect Black and low-income children. They often occur because leu- kotriene (LT) induced airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction are incompletely responsive to systemic corticosteroid (CCS) and inhaled albuterol. LT synthesis is induced by viral respiratory infections and aeroaller- gens, the most common exacerbation triggers in children. We have a critical clinical need for a medication that will rapidly decrease LT-mediated airway inflammation and bronchoconstriction. Montelukast (MK), a potent LT-receptor antagonist, may address this need. IV MK caused rapid, sustained improvement at peak plasma levels (Cmax) of ≈1,700 ng/ml in adults with moderate and severe exacerbations. IV MK is not available, and our preliminary pharmacokinetic (PK) study in children with exacerbations found that high-dose oral MK (mean 1.0 mg/kg) achieves Cmax of 1,700 ng/ml in 40% of participants. The R34 Aim is to perform an adaptive, PK- guided, double-masked RCT of standard treatment plus high-dose oral MK or identical placebo, with 3 escalat- ing mg/kg MK dose-levels determined by PK-guided dose modeling, in children with exacerbations that are moderate or severe after initial treatment with albuterol. We will test three Hypotheses (1) High-dose oral montelukast achieves Cmax >1,700 ng/ml in >86% of at least one of three sequential participant groups with escalating weight-based (mg/kg) doses between groups; (2) Participants randomized to high-dose oral monte- lukast have a 2 point or greater improvement of the validated Acute Asthma Intensity Research Score (AAIRS) 4 hours post-treatment in comparison with control group participants; and (3) Among montelukast recipients, Cmax correlates with change of the AAIRS at 4 hours. This R34 research will yield essential and sufficient knowledge to make definitive design decisions for a Phase II RCT (R61-R33 funded), adequately powered for important clinical outcomes. The future RCT will test the hypothesis that the optimal mg/kg MK dose identified in this R34 research improves outcomes as an additional anti-inflammatory and bronchodilator medication in children with moderate and severe exacerbations. The overall Contribution of this research will be to identify an optimal mg/kg dose of oral MK for the future RCT. The Significance of this R34 research and of the future RCT is that high-dose oral montelukast will provide a critically needed medication for exacerbations to decrease the morbidity of this common illness. This research is Innovative by (1) Identifying an optimal mg/kg dose for the future RCT; (2) Providing preliminary efficacy and dose-response data; and (3) Repurposing an inexpensive drug in a novel way to address an unmet need in children with asthma exacerbations. Completion of this re- search will yield knowledge to decrease the morbidity and health burden of asthma exacerbations in children.