Dose Ranging Study for Indacaterol in Japanese Asthma Patients

• Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) by Time Point From 5 Minutes to 12 Hours Post-dose on Day 1 and From 22 to 24 Hours Post-dose on Day 2 [ Time Frame: 5, 15, and 30 minutes; and 1, 2, 4, 8, and 12 hours post-dose on Day 1; and 22, 23, and 24 hours post-dose on Day 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Spirometry was conducted according to internationally accepted standards. FEV1 by time point was calculated using a mixed model with (period) baseline, defined as the value measured prior to the first study drug intake in the period, as a covariate.
• Peak Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) From 5 Minutes to 4 Hours Post-dose on Day 1 [ Time Frame: 5 minutes to 4 hours post-dose on Day 1 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Spirometry was conducted according to internationally accepted standards. Peak FEV1 is the maximum FEV1 recorded in the period between 5 minutes and 4 hours post dose. Analysis of Covariance was carried out with a mixed model that used (period) baseline, defined as the value of FEV1 measured prior to the first study drug intake in the period, as a covariate.
• Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 Second (FEV1) Standardized (With Respect to Time) Area Under the Curve (AUC) From 5 Minutes Post-dose on Day 1 to 24 Hours Post-dose on Day 2 [ Time Frame: 5 minutes to 12 hours post-dose on Day 1; and 22 to 24 hours post-dose on Day 2 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  Spirometry was conducted according to internationally accepted standards. Standardized area under the curve (AUC0-24h) of FEV1 values taken at pre-dose to 24 hours post dose was calculated based on the trapezoidal rule. Analysis of Covariance was carried out with a mixed model that used (period) baseline, defined as the value of FEV1 measured prior to the first study drug intake in the period, as a covariate.

This study was designed to provide data about the safety and efficacy of 3 doses of indacaterol (150, 300, and 600 µg) in Japanese asthma patients so that an optimal dose, or doses, could be chosen for testing in later studies.

• Drug: Indacaterol
  In the morning, powder filled capsules inhaled using a single dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI).
  Other Name: QAB149
• Drug: Placebo
  Placebo to indacaterol was provided in powder filled capsules with a single dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI).
• Drug: Salmeterol
  Salmeterol 100 μg total dose taken on Day 1. 50 μg in the morning and 50 μg twelve hours post initial dose inhaled via Diskus®, an inhalation device for Salmeterol.
  Other Name: Serevent

• Experimental: Placebo-Ind 150 μg-Ind 300 μg-Ind 600 μg-Salmeterol

  In treatment period 1: patients received 2 placebo capsules; in treatment period 2: patients received 1 indacaterol (Ind) 150 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule; in treatment period 3: patients received 1 indacaterol 300 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule; and in treatment period 4: patients received 2 indacaterol 300 μg capsules. Two inhalation capsules of study drug were inhaled using a single dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI) in the morning on day 1 of each treatment period at approximately the same time of day +/- 15 minutes. There was a washout period of 14-28 days between each treatment period. In open label treatment period 5: patients received 100 μg salmeterol (50 μg in the morning, 50 μg twelve hours post initial dose) inhaled via Diskus®, an inhalation device, on Day 1.

  Daily inhaled corticosteroid treatment (if applicable) was allowed to remain stable throughout the study. The short acting (beta) β2-agonist (SABA) salbutamol was available for rescue use throughout the study.

  Interventions:

  • Drug: Indacaterol
  • Drug: Placebo
  • Drug: Salmeterol
• Experimental: Ind 150 μg-Ind 600 μg-Placebo-Ind 300 μg-Salmeterol

  In treatment period 1: patients received 1 indacaterol (Ind) 150 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule; in treatment period 2: patients received 2 indacaterol 300 μg capsules; in treatment period 3: patients received 2 placebo capsules; and in treatment period 4: patients received 1 indacaterol 300 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule. Two inhalation capsules of study drug were inhaled using a single dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI) in the morning on day 1 of each treatment period at approximately the same time of day +/- 15 minutes. There was a washout period of 14-28 days between each treatment period. In open label treatment period 5: patients received 100 μg salmeterol (50 μg in the morning, 50 μg twelve hours post initial dose) inhaled via Diskus®, an inhalation device, on Day 1.

  Daily inhaled corticosteroid treatment (if applicable) was allowed to remain stable throughout the study. The short acting (beta) β2-agonist (SABA) salbutamol was available for rescue use throughout the study.

  Interventions:

  • Drug: Indacaterol
  • Drug: Placebo
  • Drug: Salmeterol
• Experimental: Ind 300 μg-Placebo-Ind 600 μg-Ind 150 μg-Salmeterol

  In treatment period 1: patients received 1 indacaterol (Ind) 300 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule; in treatment period 2: patients received 2 placebo capsules; in treatment period 3: patients received 2 indacaterol 300 μg capsules; and in treatment period 4: patients received 1 indacaterol 150 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule. Two inhalation capsules of study drug were inhaled using a single dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI) in the morning on day 1 of each treatment period at approximately the same time of day +/- 15 minutes. There was a washout period of 14-28 days between each treatment period. In open label treatment period 5: patients received 100 μg salmeterol (50 μg in the morning, 50 μg twelve hours post initial dose) inhaled via Diskus®, an inhalation, device on Day 1.

  Daily inhaled corticosteroid treatment (if applicable) was allowed to remain stable throughout the study. The short acting (beta) β2-agonist (SABA) salbutamol was available for rescue use throughout the study.

  Interventions:

  • Drug: Indacaterol
  • Drug: Placebo
  • Drug: Salmeterol
• Experimental: Ind 600 μg-Ind 300 μg-Ind 150 μg-Placebo-Salmeterol

  In treatment period 1: patients received 2 indacaterol (Ind) 300 μg capsules; in treatment period 2: patients received 1 indacaterol 300 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule; in treatment period 3: patients received 1 indacaterol 150 μg capsule + 1 placebo capsule; and in treatment period 4: patients received 2 placebo capsules. Two inhalation capsules of study drug were inhaled using a single dose dry powder inhaler (SDDPI) in the morning on day 1 of each treatment period at approximately the same time of day +/- 15 minutes. There was a washout period of 14-28 days between each treatment period. In open label treatment period 5: patients received 100 μg salmeterol (50 μg in the morning, 50 μg twelve hours post initial dose) inhaled via Diskus®, an inhalation device, on Day 1.

  Daily inhaled corticosteroid treatment (if applicable) was allowed to remain stable throughout the study. The short acting (beta) β2-agonist (SABA) salbutamol was available for rescue use throughout the study.

  Interventions:

  • Drug: Indacaterol
  • Drug: Placebo
  • Drug: Salmeterol

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female Japanese asthmatic patients aged 18 to 75 years old.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients who have been hospitalized or had emergency room treatment for an acute asthma attack in the 6 months prior to the first day of screening or during the screening period.
• Patients who have used tobacco products within 6 months prior to the first day of screening or have a smoking history of greater than 10 pack years.
• Patients with a history of malignancy with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin.
• Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.
• Patients who have had treatment with disallowed medications including investigational drug.

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria applied to the study.