Knopp Biosciences LLC, a subsidiary of Knopp Neurosciences Inc, and the University of Leicester have revealed the timelines, trial details, and eligibility criteria for a planned Phase two clinical trial assessing the oral eosinophil-lowering drug candidate Dexpramipexole in severe eosinophilic asthma patients that is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2020, it was reported yesterday.

The 52-week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial is to assess if dexpramipexole is associated with a decrease in asthma exacerbations. Fifteen severe asthma centres across the United Kingdom will be enrolling up to 100 total participants in the trial, headed by the Leicester Clinical Trials Unit of the University of Leicester.

Dexpramipexole is an orally available small molecule drug candidate indicated to selectively decrease eosinophil levels in multiple clinical trials, including in a Phase two study in hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) and a Phase two trial in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Knopp Biosciences LLC has separately started a Phase two dose-ranging biomarker trial in the United States of oral dexpramipexole in moderate-to-severe eosinophilic asthma.