Proof of concept clinical trial of clopidogrel in asthma

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Proof of concept clinical trial examining the effect of clopidogrel on allergen challenge in asthma

• IRAS ID

  96960

• Contact name

  Peter Howarth

• Eudract number

  2012-003698-25

• ISRCTN Number

  n.a

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  n.a

• Research summary

  Despite advances in asthma treatment, a substantial proportion of asthma patients remain ??uncontrolled?? despite maximal therapy. That is, their asthma disturbs their sleep or day-to-day life. Research is ongoing therefore to find new ways of treating asthma, targeting different aspects of the disease.One of the aspects of asthma which has not really been looked at in great detail concerns the way that some blood cells called platelets may contribute to the inflammation that occurs in asthma when people breathe in allergens such as house dust mite. It appears that platelets become activated and release substances when they pass through the lung when there is allergen present. Theoretically therefore, by decreasing the ability of platelets to become activated, this may improve people??s asthma symptoms ?? no studies yet have looked at this.One way of modifying the activity of platelets is to take a drug called Clopidogrel. This drug is one of the most widely prescribed drugs in the world, and is commonly used to stop platelets being activated in people who have problems with their blood vessels ?? here platelet activation can cause blood clots.We wish to test whether taking clopidogrel might have an effect on stopping platelet activation in the lungs when breathing in a common allergen, and by doing so, decrease the inflammation in the lungs. This may lead to improved symptoms of asthma.

• REC name

  East of England - Cambridge East Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  12/EE/0545

• Date of REC Opinion

  26 Feb 2013

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion