AsthmaPhase 3NCT03226392
Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 When Added to Standard-of-care Asthma Therapy in Patients With Uncontrolled Asthma
A Phase 3 study testing QAW039 in people with Asthma, run by Novartis Pharmaceuticals at 142 sites in 18 countries.
Trial summary
A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo- controlled parallel-group study to determine the efficacy and safety of QAW039, compared with placebo, when added to standard-of-care (SoC) asthma therapy in adult and adolescent (≥ 12 years) patients with uncontrolled asthma with respect to change from baseline in… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Asthma
- What is being tested?
- QAW039
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 704 participants
- Where
- 142 sitesin 18 countries
- Study dates
- 31 Oct 2017to 1 Aug 2019
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 12 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- A diagnosis of asthma (according to GINA 2016) for a period of at least 6 months.
- Treated with medium dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), or high dose ICS, or low dose ICS plus long- acting beta agonist (LABA), or low dose ICS plus leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), or medium dose ICS plus LABA for at least 3 months prior to Visit 1 and the doses have been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.
- FEV1 of ≤85% for patients aged ≥18 years. FEV1 of ≤90% for patients aged 12 to <18 years.
- Daytime asthma symptom score (0 to 6 scale) of ≥1 per day during 4 of the last 7 days of the placebo run- in period.
- Total daily SABA use ≥1 puff per day during 4 of the last 7 days of the placebo run-in period.
- Demonstrated reversible airway obstruction.
- Asthma control questionnaire (ACQ) score ≥ 1.5.
Who cannot join
- Use of other investigational drugs within 5 half-lives of enrollment, or within 30 days, whichever is longer.
- A resting QTcF (Fridericia) ≥450 msec (male) or
- ≥460 msec (female).
- Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.
- Serious co-morbidities.
- Patients on >20 mg of simvastatin, > 40 mg of atorvastatin, >40 mg of pravastatin, or >2 mg of pitavastatin.
- Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.
Trial locations and contacts
142 sites in 18 countries.
142 sites in 18 countries
United States45 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Altoona, Pennsylvania, 16602
Novartis Investigative Site
Andalusia, Alabama, 36420
Novartis Investigative Site
Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48106
Novartis Investigative Site
Birmingham, Alabama, 35209
Novartis Investigative Site
Brooklyn, New York, 11235
Novartis Investigative Site
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45245
Novartis Investigative Site
Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80907
Novartis Investigative Site
Columbia, Maryland, 21044
Novartis Investigative Site
Columbus, Ohio, 43215
Novartis Investigative Site
Dallas, Texas, 75231
Novartis Investigative Site
Denver, Colorado, 80230
Novartis Investigative Site
Lafayette, Colorado, 80026
Novartis Investigative Site
Los Angeles, California, 90048
Novartis Investigative Site
Marion, Ohio, 43302
Novartis Investigative Site
Mayfield Heights, Ohio, 44124
Novartis Investigative Site
Miami, Florida, 33176
Novartis Investigative Site
Miami Gardens, Florida, 33169
Novartis Investigative Site
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55402
Novartis Investigative Site
Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 29464
Novartis Investigative Site
Murray, Utah, 84107
Novartis Investigative Site
New Braunfels, Texas, 78130
Novartis Investigative Site
Newport Beach, California, 92663
Novartis Investigative Site
Newport News, Virginia, 23606
Novartis Investigative Site
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, 02747-3322
Novartis Investigative Site
Omaha, Nebraska, 68134
Novartis Investigative Site
Paducah, Kentucky, 42001
Novartis Investigative Site
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15241
Novartis Investigative Site
Raleigh, North Carolina, 27607
Novartis Investigative Site
Rochester, Minnesota, 55905
Novartis Investigative Site
Rolling Hills Estates, California, 90274
Novartis Investigative Site
Saint Charles, Missouri, 63301
Novartis Investigative Site
San Antonio, Texas, 78205
Novartis Investigative Site
San Diego, California, 92117
Novartis Investigative Site
San Diego, California, 92120
Novartis Investigative Site
San Jose, California, 95117
Novartis Investigative Site
Spokane, Washington, 99204
Novartis Investigative Site
St Louis, Missouri, 63110
Novartis Investigative Site
St Louis, Missouri, 63141
Novartis Investigative Site
Stockton, California, 95207
Novartis Investigative Site
Tallahassee, Florida, 32308
Novartis Investigative Site
Tucson, Arizona, 85745
Novartis Investigative Site
Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74136
Novartis Investigative Site
Warrensburg, Missouri, 64093
Novartis Investigative Site
White Marsh, Maryland, 21162
Novartis Investigative Site
Winter Park, Florida, 32789
Russia14 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Barnaul, 656024
Novartis Investigative Site
Chelyabinsk, 454021
Novartis Investigative Site
Moscow, 109544
Novartis Investigative Site
Moscow, 115478
Novartis Investigative Site
N.Novgorod, 603126
Novartis Investigative Site
Penza, 440067
Novartis Investigative Site
Perm, 614068
Novartis Investigative Site
Ryazan, 390039
Novartis Investigative Site
Saint Petersburg, 191186
Novartis Investigative Site
Saint Petersburg, 194354
Novartis Investigative Site
Saint Petersburg, 197022
Novartis Investigative Site
Stavropol, 355000
Novartis Investigative Site
Yaroslavl, 150054
Novartis Investigative Site
Yekaterinburg, 620109
Spain10 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Barcelona, Vic, 08500
Novartis Investigative Site
Barcelona, 08006
Novartis Investigative Site
Barcelona, 08540
Novartis Investigative Site
Girona, 17005
Novartis Investigative Site
Laredo, Cantabria, 39770
Novartis Investigative Site
Málaga, Andalusia, 29010
Novartis Investigative Site
Marbella, Andalusia, 29603
Novartis Investigative Site
Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, 28223
Novartis Investigative Site
Santiago de Compostela, 1506
Novartis Investigative Site
Zaragoza, 50009
South Korea9 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, 14584
Novartis Investigative Site
Daegu, 705703
Novartis Investigative Site
Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, 18450
Novartis Investigative Site
Incheon, 21431
Novartis Investigative Site
Seoul, Korea, 03312
Novartis Investigative Site
Seoul, Seocho Gu, 06591
Novartis Investigative Site
Seoul, 05505
Novartis Investigative Site
Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 16499
Novartis Investigative Site
Wŏnju, Gangwon-do, 26427
Brazil8 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Blumenau, Santa Catarina, 89030101
Novartis Investigative Site
Goiânia, Goiás, 74110-030
Novartis Investigative Site
Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre RS, 90610 000
Novartis Investigative Site
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90020-090
Novartis Investigative Site
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, 90610-000
Novartis Investigative Site
São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, 09715 090
Novartis Investigative Site
São Paulo, São Paulo, 05437 010
Novartis Investigative Site
Sorocaba, São Paulo
Germany8 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Berlin, 10367
Novartis Investigative Site
Erlangen, 91052
Novartis Investigative Site
Frankfurt, 60389
Novartis Investigative Site
Halle, 06108
Novartis Investigative Site
Hamburg, 20354
Novartis Investigative Site
Hanover, 30167
Novartis Investigative Site
Leipzig, 04357
Novartis Investigative Site
Lübeck, 23552
Hungary7 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Budapest, 1106
Novartis Investigative Site
Hajdúnánás, HUN, 4080
Novartis Investigative Site
Kapuvár, HUN, 9330
Novartis Investigative Site
Pécs, 7635
Novartis Investigative Site
Püspökladány, HUN, 4150
Novartis Investigative Site
Siófok, 8600
Novartis Investigative Site
Szigetszentmiklós, H-2310
India6 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380 060
Novartis Investigative Site
Bikaner, Rajasthan, 334 001
Novartis Investigative Site
Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 045
Novartis Investigative Site
Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248001
Novartis Investigative Site
Nashik, Maharashtra, 422007
Novartis Investigative Site
Vadodara, Gujarat, 390022
Peru6 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Cusco, 84
Novartis Investigative Site
Lima, 1
Novartis Investigative Site
Lima Cercado, Lima region, 01
Novartis Investigative Site
Piura, 2000
Novartis Investigative Site
San Isidro, Lima region, 27
Novartis Investigative Site
San Martín de Porres, Lima region, 31
Italy5 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Brescia, BS, 25123
Novartis Investigative Site
Florence, FI, 50134
Novartis Investigative Site
Milan, 20157
Novartis Investigative Site
Pisa, PI, 56124
Novartis Investigative Site
Rozzano, MI, 20089
Bulgaria4 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Pleven, 5800
Novartis Investigative Site
Rousse, 7002
Novartis Investigative Site
Sofia, 1000
Novartis Investigative Site
Stara Zagora, 6000
Canada4 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Kingston, Ontario, K7L 2V7
Novartis Investigative Site
Toronto, Ontario, M6H 3M2
Novartis Investigative Site
Toronto, Ontario, M9V 4B4
Novartis Investigative Site
Windsor, Ontario, N8X 5A6
Colombia4 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Bogotá, 110111
Novartis Investigative Site
Bogota DC, 110221
Novartis Investigative Site
Bucaramanga
Novartis Investigative Site
Ibague, Tolima Department, 730006
Israel4 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Ashkelon, 78278
Novartis Investigative Site
Haifa, 3436212
Novartis Investigative Site
Jerusalem
Novartis Investigative Site
Rehovot, 76100
Sweden3 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Lund, SE-221 85
Novartis Investigative Site
Umeå, 907 40
Novartis Investigative Site
Visby, 621 50
Vietnam3 sites
Novartis Investigative Site
Haiphong, 180000
Novartis Investigative Site
Hanoi, 100000
Novartis Investigative Site
Ho Chi Minh City, 700000
About this study
Official title: A 12-week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 When Added to Standard-of-care Asthma Therapy in Patients With Uncontrolled Asthma
A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo- controlled parallel-group study to determine the efficacy and safety of QAW039, compared with placebo, when added to standard-of-care (SoC) asthma therapy in adult and adolescent (≥ 12 years) patients with uncontrolled asthma with respect to change from baseline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at the end of 12 weeks of treatment.
- Conditions
- Asthma
- Being tested
- QAW039, Placebo
- Keywords
- QAW039, uncontrolled asthma
- Medical subject headings
- Asthma
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
QAW039Drug
QAW039 once daily
PlaceboDrug
Placebo once daily
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| QAW039 | Active comparator | QAW039 once daily Receives: Drug: QAW039 |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Placebo once daily Receives: Drug: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change From Baseline in Pre-dose FEV1
Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) is calculated as the volume of air forcibly exhaled in one second as measured by a spirometer. Baseline is defined as the last available FEV1 measurement taken prior to the first dose of randomized study drug.
Measured: Baseline and Week 12
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change From Baseline in Daytime Asthma Symptom Score
Daytime asthma symptoms are evaluated through four questions and each of them will be rated on a scale of 0 to 6. Higher scores indicate more severe asthma-related symptoms. A mean score is calculated for the responses to 4 questions.
Measured: Baseline and Week 12
Change From Baseline in Number of Puffs of SABA Taken Per Day
Daily use of SABA (the number of rescue medication puffs taken in the previous 12 hours) was recorded using a patient electronic diary (referred to as eDiary or eDiary/ePEF). Patients were instructed to routinely complete the patient diary twice daily - at the same time each morning and each evening, approximately 12 hours apart.
Measured: Baseline (daily mean for up to three weeks prior to baseline visit) and Week 12 (daily mean post baseline up to Week 12)
Change From Baseline in Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire for 12 Years and Older (AQLQ+12) Score
AQLQ is a 32-item instrument administered as a self-assessment. AQLQ+12 is a modified version of AQLQ developed to measure functional impairments of participants aged 12-70 years. It is divided into 4 domains: activity limitation, symptoms, emotional function, and environmental stimuli. Participants were asked to recall their experiences during the last 2 weeks and respond to each question on a 7-point scale (1=severe impairment, 7=no impairment), where higher scores indicated "better quality of life." Overall AQLQ+12 score is the mean of all 32 responses.
Measured: Baseline and Week 12
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted21 Jul 2017
- Study start31 Oct 2017
- Primary completion5 Jul 2019
- Study completion1 Aug 2019
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for AsthmaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Novartis PharmaceuticalsThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 704 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals
- Sponsor type
- Industry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03226392
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CQAW039A2317
- Other IDs
- 2017-001272-40, 2017
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 11 Jul 2017
- Last updated
- 13 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A 12-week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 When Added to Standard-of-care Asthma Therapy in Patients With Uncontrolled Asthma
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03226392
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- CQAW039A2317
- Conditions
- Asthma
- Keywords
- QAW039, uncontrolled asthma
- Phase
- Phase 3
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 704 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Novartis PharmaceuticalsIndustry (pharma, biotech, devices)
- Study start
- 31 Oct 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 5 Jul 2019 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 Aug 2019 (actual)
- First posted
- 21 Jul 2017 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 28 Feb 2020
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo- controlled parallel-group study to determine the efficacy and safety of QAW039, compared with placebo, when added to standard-of-care (SoC) asthma therapy in adult and adolescent (≥ 12 years) patients with uncontrolled asthma with respect to change from baseline in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) at the end of 12 weeks of treatment.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| QAW039 | Active comparator | Drug: QAW039QAW039 once daily |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlaceboPlacebo once daily |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- A diagnosis of asthma (according to GINA 2016) for a period of at least 6 months.
- Treated with medium dose inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), or high dose ICS, or low dose ICS plus long- acting beta agonist (LABA), or low dose ICS plus leukotriene receptor antagonist (LTRA), or medium dose ICS plus LABA for at least 3 months prior to Visit 1 and the doses have been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.
- FEV1 of ≤85% for patients aged ≥18 years. FEV1 of ≤90% for patients aged 12 to <18 years.
- Daytime asthma symptom score (0 to 6 scale) of ≥1 per day during 4 of the last 7 days of the placebo run- in period.
- Total daily SABA use ≥1 puff per day during 4 of the last 7 days of the placebo run-in period.
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Use of other investigational drugs within 5 half-lives of enrollment, or within 30 days, whichever is longer.
- A resting QTcF (Fridericia) ≥450 msec (male) or
- ≥460 msec (female).
- Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women.
- Serious co-morbidities.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| QAW039QAW039 once daily | Drug | QAW039 |
| PlaceboPlacebo once daily | Drug | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Change From Baseline in Pre-dose FEV1
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) is calculated as the volume of air forcibly exhaled in one second as measured by a spirometer. Baseline is defined as the last available FEV1 measurement taken prior to the first dose of randomized study drug.
3 secondary outcomes
Change From Baseline in Daytime Asthma Symptom Score
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Change From Baseline in Number of Puffs of SABA Taken Per Day
Time frame: Baseline (daily mean for up to three weeks prior to baseline visit) and Week 12 (daily mean post baseline up to Week 12)
Change From Baseline in Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire for 12 Years and Older (AQLQ+12) Score
Time frame: Baseline and Week 12
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Jan 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- A Plain Language Trial Summary is available on novartisclinicaltrials.comLink provided by the sponsor.
- A Pediatric Plain Language Trial Summary is available on novartisclinicaltrials.comLink provided by the sponsor.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
142 sites in 18 countries: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 3 study testing QAW039 in people with Asthma, run by Novartis Pharmaceuticals at 142 sites in 18 countries.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 142 sites in United States, Russia, Spain, South Korea, Brazil and 13 more countries. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 28 Feb 2020). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change From Baseline in Pre-dose FEV1 (time frame: Baseline and Week 12). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jan 2026.