Efficacy and Safety of 2 Doses of Tiotropium Respimat® Compared to Placebo in Children With Severe Persistent Asthma

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria are:

• All patients' parent(s) (or legal guardian) must sign and date an informed consent prior to participation in the trial. In addition, an informed assent suitable for this age group has to be obtained from patients. A separate informed consent/assent is required for pharmacogenomic sampling.
• Male or female patients between 6 and 11 years of age.
• All patients must have at least a 6-month history of asthma.
• All patients must have been on maintenance treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid either at stable high dose in combination with another controller medication, OR at stable medium dose in combination with two other controller medications, for at least 4 weeks before Visit 1.
• All patients must be symptomatic (partly controlled) at Visit 1 and prior to randomisation at Visit 2 as defined by an Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ-IA) mean score >= 1.5.
• All patients must have a pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) >= 60% and = 12% 15 to 30 minutes after 200 mcg salbutamol/albuterol.
• Patients must be able to use the Respimat inhaler correctly.
• Patients must be able to perform all trial related procedures including technically acceptable pulmonary function tests and use of electronic diary/peak flow meter (diary compliance of at least 80% is required).

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria are:

• Patients with a significant disease other than asthma.
• Patients with a clinically relevant abnormal haematology or blood chemistry at screening.
• Patients with a history of congenital or acquired heart disease, or patients who 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 a malignancy for which the patient has undergone resection, radiation therapy or chemotherapy within the last five years.
• Patients with known active tuberculosis.
• 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 six weeks prior to Visit 1.
• Patients with known hypersensitivity to anticholinergic drugs, BAC, EDTA or any other components of the inhalation solution used with the Respimat inhaler.
• Pregnant or nursing female patients, including postmenarchal girls with a positive urine pregnancy test at Visit 1.
• Postmenarchal girls of child-bearing potential not using a highly effective method of birth control.
• Patients who have been treated with systemic corticosteroids within four weeks prior to Visit 1.
• Patients who have been treated with systemic beta-adrenergics within four weeks prior to Visit 1.
• Patients who have been treated with oral beta-blocker medication within four weeks prior to Visit 1 and/or during the screening period.
• Patients who have been treated with inhaled long-acting anticholinergics or systemic anticholinergic treatment within four weeks prior to Visit 1 and/or during the screening period, or who have been treated with inhaled short-acting anticholinergics within two weeks prior to Visit 1.
• Patients who have been treated with short-acting theophylline preparations within two weeks prior to Visit 1.
• Patients who have been treated with non-approved and according to international guidelines not recommended experimental drugs for routine asthma therapy within four weeks prior to Visit 1 and/or during the screening period.
• Patients who have taken an investigational drug within six half lives according to the investigator's information, or four weeks (whichever is greater) prior to Visit 1 and/or during the screening period.
• Patients who have previously been randomised in this trial or are currently participating in another trial.
• Patients with any acut