Phase 2 trial proposes 129XeMRI and RNA sequencing to study airway remodeling in obese asthmaCan a new type of lung scan reveal why asthma hits obese people harder?

ClinicalTrials.gov Published April 3, 2026 Study authors: Bastiaan Driehuys NCT04512547 ↗ Editorial oversight: Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

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Key Takeaway

Note: This is a Phase 2 trial proposal for obese asthma; results are not yet available.

A Phase 2 clinical trial proposal describes a planned study of 49 obese asthma subjects. The intervention involves using hyperpolarized 129XeMRI for 3D functional imaging combined with single-cell RNA sequencing to examine mechanisms driving regional airway remodeling and fibrosis. The study also mentions preclinical models of obese asthma. The primary outcomes listed are the percentage of neutrophils and eosinophils in peripheral blood. No comparator, setting, or follow-up duration is reported.

No main results are available, as this is a study record describing a proposal. The record states that very little research has been conducted in obese animals or obese asthmatics, resulting in a major knowledge deficit that this study aims to address. Safety and tolerability data, including adverse events, serious adverse events, and discontinuations, are not reported.

Key limitations include the absence of reported results and the preliminary nature of the proposal. The practice relevance is not reported. Given that this is a study record without results, no clinical conclusions can be drawn. The findings, when available, will require careful evaluation in the context of the full study design and outcomes.

For people with asthma who also have obesity, breathing problems can be especially tough to manage. Doctors know the two conditions are linked, but they don't fully understand what's happening deep inside the lungs to make asthma worse. This has created a major knowledge gap, with very little research done in this specific group.

A new research proposal aims to change that. Scientists plan to use a specialized, high-tech lung scan called hyperpolarized 129Xe MRI on 49 people with both asthma and obesity. This scan can create a 3D map of the lungs to look for areas of scarring and inflammation that regular tests might miss. They'll also analyze blood cells to get a fuller picture of what's driving the disease.

It's crucial to know this is just the plan for a study. The work described hasn't been done yet, and there are no results to report. The researchers themselves note how little is known about asthma in the context of obesity, which is why they're proposing this detailed look. We'll have to wait for the trial to finish to see if this high-tech approach uncovers any new clues.

What this means for you:

A planned study will use advanced lung scans to investigate severe asthma in people with obesity.

Study Details

Study typePhase2

Sample sizen = 49

EvidenceLevel 3

Follow-up46.0 mo

PublishedMar 2026

TrialNCT04512547

View Original Abstract ↓

Status: COMPLETED | Phase: PHASE2 Condition(s): Asthma, Obesity Intervention(s): Hyperpolarized 129XeMRI (DRUG) 40% of all asthma patients in the US are obese. Obese asthmatics have more severe disease than lean asthmatics and do not respond as well to conventional anti-inflammatory therapies. This proposal will utilize 3D functional imaging with 129XeMRI and single cell RNA sequencing to study mechanisms driving regional airway remodeling and fibrosis in obese asthma subjects and in preclinical models of obese asthma. Detailed: ABSTRACT Obesity, a major comorbidity and a potential modulator of asthma, affects nearly 40% of asthmatics in the U.S., and increases its severity. Obese asthmatics do not respond as well to conventional anti-inflammatory therapies and new biologics targeting asthma are less effective in obese asthmatics compared to lean. Very little research has been conducted in obese animals or obese asthmatics, resulting in a major knowledge deficit. A key feature of asthma is airway remodeling and fibrosis, broadly defined as a change in distribution, thickness, composition, mass or volume of structural components of the airway wall of patients relative to healthy patients. Airway remodeling is difficult to diagnose in obese patients as mechanical changes in chest wall compliance can contribute to Primary Outcome(s): Percentage of Neutrophils in Peripheral Blood; Percentage of Eosinophils in Peripheral Blood Enrollment: 49 (ACTUAL) Lead Sponsor: Bastiaan Driehuys Start: 2021-04-01 | Primary Completion: 2025-01-31 Results posted: 2026-03-23

Phase 2 trial proposes 129XeMRI and RNA sequencing to study airway remodeling in obese asthmaCan a new type of lung scan reveal why asthma hits obese people harder?

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Phase 2 trial proposes 129XeMRI and RNA sequencing to study airway remodeling in obese asthmaCan a new type of lung scan reveal why asthma hits obese people harder?

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