Southmead Hospital's Clinical Research Centre is one of several sites taking part in the MODIFY Study.
The study is an international clinical trial investigating whether an existing asthma medicine, called depemokimab, could help people with Type 2 asthma earlier in their treatment journey. The study is sponsored by GSK and is being delivered locally by the Vaccine & Infectious Diseases Research Team at Southmead Hospital.
Researchers want to find out whether adding depemokimab to a person's usual asthma treatment can help reduce asthma attacks, improve asthma control and improve lung function. Depemokimab is already approved in the UK for people with severe asthma and works by targeting a key pathway involved in airway inflammation.
Who can take part?
The study is looking for adolescents and adults aged 18 years and over who:
- Have had a diagnosis of asthma for at least two years
- Have experienced at least two asthma attacks (exacerbations) within the last three years, with at least one of these occurring within the last year
- Continue to use regular asthma medication
Final eligibility will be assessed by the research team during the screening process.
What does participation involve?
Participants will continue taking their usual asthma medication throughout the study. They will be randomly assigned to receive either depemokimab or a placebo injection approximately every six months, with neither participants nor study staff knowing which treatment is being given during the trial.
The study will run for at least two years, with some participants taking part for up to three years. Participation includes approximately 10 to 12 study visits at Southmead Hospital, alongside regular health checks and monitoring by specialist research doctors and nurses. Assessments may include breathing tests, physical examinations, blood tests and asthma questionnaires.
Participants will also receive regular health monitoring throughout the study, and reasonable travel expenses, including parking costs, will be reimbursed.
Dr Rahul Shrimanker, Principal Investigator for the study at Southmead Hospital, said:
"Asthma affects millions of people and can have a significant impact on everyday life. Research studies like MODIFY are vital in helping us understand how we can improve treatment and prevent asthma attacks. We encourage anyone who thinks they may be eligible to get in touch and find out more."
Interested in taking part?
Anyone interested in learning more about the MODIFY Study can contact the Southmead Hospital research team:
Clinical Research Centre, Southmead Hospital
Telephone: 0117 414 8102 / 8106
Email: vaccine-research-team@nbt.nhs.uk
Further information about the study is also available at: www.MODIFYasthmastudy.com
Participation in research is entirely voluntary, and anyone considering taking part will have the opportunity to discuss the study with the research team before deciding.