Diminished lipoxin biosynthesis in severe asthma.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Severe asthma is characterized by increased airway inflammation that persists despite therapy with corticosteroids. It is not, however, merely an exaggeration of the eosinophilic inflammation that characterizes mild to moderate asthma; rather, severe asthma presents unique features. Although arachidonic acid metabolism is well appreciated to regulate airway inflammation and reactivity, alterations in the biosynthetic capacity for both pro- and antiinflammatory eicosanoids in severe asthma have not been determined. METHODS: Patients with severe asthma were identified according to National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Severe Asthma Research Program criteria. Samples of whole blood from individuals with severe or moderate asthma were assayed for biosynthesis of lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoids. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The counterregulatory mediator lipoxin A4 was detectable in low picogram amounts, using a novel fluorescence-based detection system. In activated whole blood, mean lipoxin A4 levels were decreased in severe compared with moderate asthma (0.4 [SD 0.4] ng/ml vs. 1.8 [SD 0.8] ng/ml, p=0.001). In sharp contrast, mean levels of prophlogistic cysteinyl leukotrienes were increased in samples from severe compared with moderate asthma (112.5 [SD 53.7] pg/ml vs. 64.4 [SD 24.8] pg/ml, p=0.03). Basal circulating levels of lipoxin A4 were also decreased in severe relative to moderate asthma. The marked imbalance in lipoxygenase-derived eicosanoid biosynthesis correlated with the degree of airflow obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanisms underlying airway responses in severe asthma include underproduction of lipoxins. This is the first report of a defect in lipoxin biosynthesis in severe asthma, and suggests an alternative therapeutic strategy that emphasizes natural counterregulatory pathways in the airways

Diminished Lipoxin Biosynthesis in Severe Asthma

Rationale and Objectives: Severe asthma is characterized by increased airway inflammation that persists despite therapy with corticosteroids. It is not, however, merely an exaggeration of the eosinophilic inflammation that characterizes mild to moderate asthma; rather, severe asthma presents unique features. Although arachidonic acid metabolism is well appreciated to regulate airway inflammation and reactivity, alterations in the biosynthetic capacity for both pro- and antiinflammatory eicosanoids in severe asthma have not been determined

Efficacy and safety of lumacaftor/ivacaftor combination therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis homozygous for Phe508del CFTR by pulmonary function subgroup: a pooled analysis

Background Lumacaftor/ivacaftor combination therapy has shown clinical benefits in patients with cystic fibrosis homozygous for the Phe508del CFTR mutation; however, pretreatment lung function is a confounding factor that potentially affects the efficacy and safety of this therapy. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of lumacaftor/ivacaftor therapy in these patients, defined by specific categories of lung function. Methods Both trials (TRAFFIC and TRANSPORT) included in this pooled analysis were multinational, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase 3 studies. Eligible patients from 187 participating centres in North America, Australia, and the European Union (both trials) were aged 12 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, homozygous for the Phe508del CFTR mutation, and with a percent predicted FEV (ppFEV) of 40–90 at the time of screening. Patients were randomly assigned with an interactive web response system (1:1:1) to receive placebo, lumacaftor (600 mg once daily) plus ivacaftor (250 mg every 12 h), or lumacaftor (400 mg every 12 h) plus ivacaftor (250 mg every 12 h) for 24 weeks. Prespecified subgroup analyses of pooled efficacy and safety data by lung function, as measured by ppFEV, were done for patients with baseline ppFEV

Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor Treatment of Patients with Cystic Fibrosis Heterozygous for F508del-CFTR

Rationale: In a prior study, lumacaftor/ivacaftor treatment (<= 28 d) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) heterozygous for F508del-CFTR did not improve lung function. Objectives: To evaluate an optimized lumacaftor/ivacaftor dosing regimen with a longer duration in a cohort of patients heterozygous for F508del-CFTR. Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older with a confirmed CF diagnosis and percent predicted FEV1 (ppFEV(1)) of 40 to 90 were randomized to lumacaftor/ivacaftor (400 mg/250 mg every 12 h) or placebo daily for 56 days. Primary outcomes were change in ppFEV(1) at Day 56 and safety. Other disease markers were evaluated. Measurements and Main Results: Of 126 patients, 119 (94.4%) completed the study. Lumacaftor/ivacaftor was well tolerated, although chest tightness and dyspnea occurred more frequently with active treatment than with placebo (27.4% vs. 14.3% and 14.5% vs. 6.3%, respectively). Mean (SD) ppFEV(1) values at baseline were 62.9 (14.3) in the active treatment group and 60.1 (14.0) in the placebo group. Absolute changes in ppFEV(1) (least squares mean [SE]) at Day 56 were -0.6 (0.8) percentage points in the active treatment group and -1.2 (0.8) percentage points in the placebo group (P = 0.60). CF respiratory symptom scores in the active treatment group improved by a mean of 5.7 points versus a decrease of -0.8 in the placebo group (P < 0.01). No changes in body mass index occurred. Changes from baseline in sweat chloride (least squares mean [SE]) at Day 56 were -11.8 (1.3) mmol/L in the active treatment group and -0.8 (1.2) mmol/L in the placebo group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Sweat chloride and respiratory symptom scores improved with lumacaftor/ivacaftor, though no meaningful benefit was seen in ppFEV(1) or body mass index in patients heterozygous for F508del-CFTR

259-OR: Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islet Cells for Type 1 Diabetes

Cadaveric islet transplantation can achieve glycemic control in T1D, but cadaveric islet quantity and quality are limiting. We report the first patient-administered VX-880, an investigational allogeneic stem cell–derived, fully differentiated, pancreatic islet cell replacement therapy. A 64-year-old male with a 40-year history of T1D complicated by impaired awareness of hypoglycemia with 5 severe hypoglycemic events (SHEs) the year before VX-880 was receiving 34U insulin/day at baseline (HbA1c 8.6%; undetectable fasting and stimulated C-peptide) . After a single VX-880 infusion at half target dose, fasting C-peptide was detected by Day 29 and increased rapidly; HbA1c and daily insulin decreased in parallel. At Day 90, robust increases in fasting and stimulated C-peptide, improved glycemic control, and a substantial reduction in exogenous insulin administration were observed and continued to improve through last time point assessed (Table) . VX-880 was generally safe and well tolerated; most AEs were mild or moderate and consistent with immunosuppression. The most common AEs were SHEs (not serious or related to VX-880) , which occurred in the perioperative period. There was 1 serious AE of rash (mild, unrelated to VX-880) , which resolved. These unprecedented results are the first evidence that stem cell–derived islets can restore insulin production and glucose control in T1D. The study continues to enroll and dose patients

836-P: Glucose-Dependent Insulin Production and Insulin-Independence in Type 1 Diabetes from Stem Cell–Derived, Fully Differentiated Islet Cells—Updated Data from the VX-880 Clinical Trial

VX-880 is an investigational allogeneic stem cell-derived, fully differentiated, pancreatic islet cell replacement therapy being evaluated in a phase 1/2 clinical trial in patients with T1D and impaired hypoglycemic awareness and severe hypoglycemia. The phase 1/2 trial has three parts: Part A in which 2 patients are enrolled sequentially and receive half the target dose (presented at ADA 2022), Part B in which 5 patients are enrolled sequentially and receive the target (full) dose, and Part C where 10 patients are enrolled concurrently and receive the target (full) dose. The first two patients infused with VX-880 at half the target dose (in Part A) had restored insulin production and glucose control. One of these patients achieved and has maintained insulin independence, defined as at least one week off exogenous insulin, HbA1C ≤7%, post-prandial serum glucose at 90 minutes ≤180 mg/dL, fasting serum glucose ≤126 mg/dL, and fasting or stimulated C-peptide ≥166 pmol/L (latter 3 measured during mixed-meal tolerance test). The safety profile was consistent with the immunosuppressive regimen used in the study and the perioperative period. Part B is now fully enrolled and multiple patients have been dosed with the full (target) dose. Longer-term data on both patients in Part A and new data on patients who received the full (target) dose in Part B will be provided in the presentation. These results are the first from a clinical trial of allogeneic, fully differentiated, insulin producing, stem cell-derived islets which has demonstrated the potential to restore insulin production and glycemic control and provide insulin independence in patients with T1D. Disclosure T.W.Reichman: Consultant; Sernova, Corp., Research Support; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. J.L.Shih: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. C.Wang: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. D.Melton: None. F.Pagliuca: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Stock/Shareholder; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. B.Sanna: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. L.S.Kean: Advisory Panel; HiFiBio, Mammoth Biosciences, Consultant; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Other Relationship; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Research Support; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Adaptive Biotechnologies, Merck & Co., Inc., Tessera, Novartis. A.L.Peters: Advisory Panel; Abbott Diabetes, Medscape, Novo Nordisk, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S, Research Support; Abbott Diabetes, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Stock/Shareholder; Omada Health, Inc., Livongo. P.Witkowski: Advisory Panel; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Novartis. M.R.Rickels: Consultant; Sernova, Corp., Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Zealand Pharma A/S, Research Support; Dompé. C.Ricordi: Advisory Panel; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. A.Naji: None. J.F.Markmann: None. B.A.Perkins: Advisory Panel; Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, Other Relationship; Abbott, Medtronic, Sanofi, Research Support; Novo Nordisk, Bank of Montreal (BMO). M.Wijkstrom: None. S.Paraskevas: None. B.Bruinsma: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. G.Marigowda: Employee; Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated