SeASonal asthma exaCerbation prEveNtion with Depemokimab (ASCEND)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
SeASonal asthma exaCErbation preveNtion with Depemokimab – ASCEND
IRAS ID
1012131
Contact name
David Jackson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN11308300
Research summary
People with asthma take medication to control their symptoms. Despite this, asthma attacks (exacerbations) can still happen, particularly in the autumn/winter months, causing visits to emergency departments for treatment, and sometimes hospital admission. During the autumn/winter, hospitals in the UK are under high pressure to provide care for seasonal illnesses (winter pressures) and research is needed to reduce this.
The aim of this study is to see if a new medicine called depemokimab can prevent asthma attacks over the autumn/winter period. Depemokimab is a monoclonal antibody; one dose can be given to treat people for up to 6 months. It is an unlicensed drug (& so trials are being conducted to collect data needed to apply for approvals to become a licensed medicine in the UK). All the studies conducted so far have shown that it is safe to be given at this dose.
To see if the medicine works in this group of patients, it will be compared with a placebo (dummy medicine). People who have suffered from seasonal asthma exacerbations will be invited to take part in the study from September. They will be checked to make sure it is safe & suitable for them to take part. This involve tests/assessments at a hospital. A computer program is then used to decide which group they will enter (half of the participants will receive one dose of the drug; the other half will be given one dose of placebo). The drug/placebo will be injected under skin. The study is blinded (neither the participants or the study team will know which group they are in).
They will attend follow up visits over approximately 8 months (some at hospital, others via telephone) to check how they are feeling and if they have suffered any asthmas attacks. The study will recruit 170 participants across eight hospitals across England and Scotland. Participants may be from under the direct care of the hospitals, others may be recruited from GP practices.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/EM/0126
Date of REC Opinion
15 Jul 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion