Efficacy and Safety of 2 Doses of Tiotropium Via Respimat Compared to Placebo in Adolescents With Moderate Persistent Asthma

Inclusion criteria

• All patients and their parents (or legally accepted caregiver) must sign and date an informed consent consistent with ICH-GCP guidelines and local legislation prior to participation in the trial.
• Male or female patients between 12 and 17 years of age.
• All patients must have at least a 3 months history of asthma at the time of enrolment into the trial. The diagnosis of asthma has to be confirmed at visit 1 with a bronchodilator reversibility test.
• All patients must have been on maintenance treatment with inhaled corticosteroids at a stable medium dose for at least 4 weeks before Visit 1.
• All patients must be symptomatic (partly controlled) at Visit 1 (screening) and at randomisation defined by an Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) mean score of more than or equal to 1.5.
• All patients must have a pre-bronchodilator FEV1 more than or equal to 60% and less than or equal to 90% of predicted normal at Visit 1. Variation of absolute FEV1 values of Visit 1 as compared to Visit 2 must be within ± 30%.
• All patients must have an increase in FEV1 of equal or above 12% and 200 mL after 400 µg salbutamol (albuterol) at Visit 1. If patients in the lower age range (e.g., 12 to 14 year olds) exhibit a very small total lung volume, positive reversibility testing might be based solely on the relative (12%) post-bronchodilator response.
• All patients should be never-smokers or ex-smokers who stopped smoking at least one year prior to enrolment.
• Patients should be able to use the Respimat® inhaler correctly.
• Patients must be able to perform all trial related procedures including technically acceptable spirometric manoeuvres.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a significant disease other than asthma.
• Patients with clinically relevant abnormal screening haematology or blood chemistry
• Patients with a history of congenital or acquired heart disease, and/or have been hospitalised for cardiac syncope or failure during the past year.
• Patients with any unstable or life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention or a change in drug therapy within the past year.
• Patients with malignancy for which the patient has undergone resection, radiation therapy or chemotherapy within the last five years.
• Patients with lung diseases other than asthma (e.g. Cystic Fibrosis). In case of ex-premature infants, a history of significant bronchopulmonary dysplasia will be regarded as exclusion criterion.
• Patients with known active tuberculosis.
• Patients with significant alcohol or drug abuse within the past two years.
• Patients who have undergone thoracotomy with pulmonary resection.
• Patients who are currently in a pulmonary rehabilitation program or have completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the 6 weeks prior to the screening visit (Visit 1).
• Patients with known hypersensitivity to anticholinergic drugs, Benzalkonium chloride (BAC), Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acis (EDTA) or any other components of the tiotropium inhalation solution.
• Pregnant or nursing adolescent female patients
• Sexually active female patients of child-bearing potential not using a highly effective method of birth control.
• Patients who have taken an investigational drug within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.
• Patients who have been treated with long-acting anticholinergics (e.g. tiotropium -Spiriva) within four weeks prior to screening (Visit 1).
• Patients who are unable to comply with pulmonary medication restrictions prior to randomisation.
• Patients who have been treated with Anti-IgE treatment (Omalizumab Xolair) within the last 6 months prior to screening.
• Patients who have been treated with systemic (oral or intravenous) corticosteroids within 4 weeks prior to screening (Visit 1).
• Patients who have been treated with long-acting theophylline preparations within 2 weeks prior to screening (Visit 1) or during the run-in period
• Patients who have been tr