(NewsUSA) - More than 20 million Americans suffer from asthma, with 60 percent of them battling allergic asthma, which is triggered by year-round allergens. Despite available treatments, many people have trouble controlling their condition.
To address this concern, medical researchers across the country are conducting the EXTRA study to help evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an investigational asthma drug in combination with standard treatments.
Recent studies indicate a substantial number of moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma patients cannot achieve control of their symptoms with a standard treatment combination of high-dose inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-agonists, such as those in the combination drug Advair.
If the highest doses of standard treatment are not effective, the next step is often systemic corticosteroids, like prednisone, which are either taken orally or intravenously.
However, because systemic corticosteroids can cause side effects if used either frequently or for a long time, additional treatment options are needed.
The investigational drug in the EXTRA study is being evaluated to determine if it is safe and effective as add-on therapy to standard asthma treatments in reducing the rate of asthma attacks that require treatment with systemic corticosteroids.
Patients enrolled in the EXTRA study have a 50 percent chance of being assigned to one of two treatment groups.
The first group receives standard asthma treatment plus the investigational drug for 48 weeks, while the other receives standard asthma treatment plus a placebo for 48 weeks. (A placebo is a solution that looks like the study drug but does not contain the study drug.)
To qualify for the EXTRA study, men and women between the ages of 12 and 75 must have moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma that is inadequately controlled with standard treatments.
To learn more about enrolling in this study, call toll-free 1-888-662-6728.
Allergic asthma is triggered by pet dander, dust mites, cockroaches, mold and mildew.
Individuals ages 12 to 75 with moderate to severe persistent allergic asthma that is inadequately controlled may be eligible for the EXTRA study. To learn more, call toll-free 1-888-662-6728.
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