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QAW039

Phase 3

Asthma | Small molecule | Respiratory |Novartis AG|Last Updated: Jan 13, 2026

Success Probability

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Market & Valuation

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Trial Design

RandomizedDouble-BlindPLACEBO_CONTROLLEDDMC
Total Trials7
Total Enrollment4,599

FDA Designations

No designations recorded

Clinical trial landscape

QAW039 · 10 trials · 4 indications

Phase 3 4Phase 2 5Phase 1 1
NCT03215758Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 When Added to Standard-of-care Asthma Therapy in Patients With Uncontrolled AsthmaAsthma
COMPLETED675 Analytics
NCT03226392Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 When Added to Standard-of-care Asthma Therapy in Patients With Uncontrolled AsthmaAsthma
COMPLETED704 Analytics
NCT02555683Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 in Patients With Severe Asthma Inadequately Controlled With Standard of Care Asthma Treatment.Asthma
COMPLETED894 Analytics
NCT02563067Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 in Patients With Severe Asthma Inadequately Controlled With Standard of Care Asthma Treatment.Asthma
COMPLETED877 Analytics
PHASE3COMPLETED
Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 When Added to Standard-of-care Asthma Therapy in Patients With Uncontrolled Asthma
AsthmaUnlock trial analytics
PHASE3COMPLETED
Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 When Added to Standard-of-care Asthma Therapy in Patients With Uncontrolled Asthma
AsthmaUnlock trial analytics
PHASE3COMPLETED
Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 in Patients With Severe Asthma Inadequately Controlled With Standard of Care Asthma Treatment.
AsthmaUnlock trial analytics
PHASE3COMPLETED
Study of Efficacy and Safety of QAW039 in Patients With Severe Asthma Inadequately Controlled With Standard of Care Asthma Treatment.
AsthmaUnlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Change From Baseline in Pre-dose FEV1 at Week 12
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.

Change From Baseline in Pre-dose FEV1
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.

Rate of Moderate-to-severe Asthma Exacerbations During the 52-week Treatment Period in High Eosinophils Subpopulation
Baseline, Week 52

A severe asthma exacerbation is defined as treatment with 'rescue' systemic corticosteroids for greater than or equal to 3 days and hospitalization; or treatment with 'rescue' systemic corticosteroids for greater than or equal to 3 days and emergency department visit (greater than 24 hours\*); or death due to asthma. A moderate asthma exacerbation is defined as treatment with 'rescue' systemic corticosteroids for greater than or equal to 3 days either as an outpatient or in emergency department visits (Emergency department visit less than or equal to 24 hours). The high eosinophils subpopulation consists of all patients with blood eosinophil count ≥ 250 cells/μL at baseline.

Rate of Moderate-to-severe Asthma Exacerbations During the 52-week Treatment Period in Overall Population
Baseline, Week 52

A severe asthma exacerbation is defined as treatment with 'rescue' systemic corticosteroids for greater than or equal to 3 days and hospitalization; or treatment with 'rescue' systemic corticosteroids for greater than or equal to 3 days and emergency department visit (greater than 24 hours\*); or death due to asthma. A moderate asthma exacerbation is defined as treatment with 'rescue' systemic corticosteroids for greater than or equal to 3 days either as an outpatient or in emergency department visits (Emergency department visit less than or equal to 24 hours).

Change From Baseline in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI)
Baseline, 12 weeks

Investigators assessed presence and severity of erythema, induration/papulation, excoriation, and lichenification in four body areas: head/neck (H), upper limbs (UL), trunk (T), and lower limbs (LL). Investigators assigned a severity score from 0 - 3 for each area (none=0, mild=1, moderate=2, and severe=3). Investigators could assign half-points. Investigators also assigned an area score from 0 (no atopic dermatitis lesion in the area) to 6 (entire area is affected) for each area. The weighting factor was 0.1 for head/neck, 0.2 for upper limbs, 0.3 for trunk, and 0.4 for lower limbs. The total body score for each body region was obtained by multiplying the sum of the severity scores of the four key signs by the area score, then multiplying the result by the constant weighted value assigned to that body region. The sum of these scores gave the EASI total, ranging from 0 to 72. A higher score represented greater disease severity. A negative change from baseline indicates improvement.

Change From Baseline in Trough FEV1 (L) in Non-atopic Patients at Week 12 - Full Analysis Set
baseline,12 weeks

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. Data within 6 hr of rescue medication use is excluded from this analysis. For subjects with missing trough FEV1 (L) at Week 12, the last post baseline observation were used (LOCF). Estimates are from a mixed effects model with treatment, subject population (non-atopic vs. atopic), treatment by subject population interaction, baseline trough FEV1 and region as fixed effects and center nested within region as random effects. Full analysis set included all randomized subjects who received at least one dose of study drug.

Change in Total Nasal Symptom Score from baseline at 14 days
Baseline, Day 14

Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) averaged over the last two hours (2-4h) of exposure following 14 days treatment with QAW039 and/or Montelukast or matched placebo

Change from baseline in sputum eosinophil percentage at week 12 (baseline measurement is defined as sputum eosinophil percentage at Day1 prior to the first dosing).
Visit 3 (day 1); Visit 5 (day 84)

Sputum induction is performed through the inhalation of hypertonic saline. Sputum is collected and assessed for differential cellular content (absolute numbers and percentages). The primary variable will be summarized by treatment and analyzed using an ANCOVA model with treatment as the fixed effect and the respective baseline value as the covariate.

Change in trough Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) from baseline to week 12
Baseline and week 12

Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) (measured in litters), and the trough measurement is taken 24 hours after morning dose on the previous day.

Pharmacokinetics: Plasma concentration of fevipiprant by AUClast
68 hours post dose

AUClast is the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the time of the last quantifiable concentration

Pharmacokinetics: Plasma concentration of fevipiprant by AUCinf
68 hours post dose

AUCinf is the area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity

Pharmacokinetics: Plasma concentration of fevipiprant by Cmax
68 hours post dose

Cmax is the observed maximum plasma concentration following drug administration

Pharmacokinetics: Plasma contentration of fevipiprant by AUC0-68h
68 hours post dose

AUC0-68h is the area under the plasma concentration from time zero to time 68 hours of the last measured concentration above the limit of quantification after dosing

Secondary Endpoints

Change From Baseline in Daytime Asthma Symptom Score
12 weeks
Change From Baseline in Daily Use of SABA
12 weeks
Change From Baseline in Asthma Quality of Life (AQLQ+12) Score
Week 12
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationRANDOMIZED
MaskingDOUBLE
ModelPARALLEL
PurposeTREATMENT

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
QAW039ACTIVE_COMPARATORQAW039 once daily
PlaceboPLACEBO_COMPARATORPlacebo once daily
QAW039 150 mgEXPERIMENTALQAW039 150 mg once daily
QAW039 450 mgEXPERIMENTALQAW039 450 mg once daily
QAW039 450 mg qd Non-atopicEXPERIMENTALQAW039 450 mg (3 capsules of QAW039 150 mg) qd combined with background ICS (100 μg fluticasone, bid). Non-atopic patients randomized in ratio of approximately 1:1.
Placebo Non-atopicPLACEBO_COMPARATORPlacebo to QAW039 (3 capsules of Placebo of QAW039 150 mg) combined with background ICS (100 μg fluticasone, bid). Non-atopic randomized in ratio of approximately 1:1.
QAW039 450 mg qd AtopicEXPERIMENTALQAW039 450 mg (3 capsules of QAW039 150 mg) qd combined with background ICS (100 μg fluticasone, bid). Atopic patients randomized in a ratio of approximate 1:1:1
Fluticasone 150 mcg bid AtopicACTIVE_COMPARATORPlacebo to QAW039 (3 capsules of Placebo of QAW039 150 mg) combined with 150 μg ICS and with background ICS (100 μg fluticasone, bid). As a consequence total ICS was 250 μg fluticasone bid. Atopic patients randomized in ratio of approximately 1:1:1
Placebo AtopicPLACEBO_COMPARATORPlacebo to QAW039 (3 capsules of Placebo of QAW039 150 mg) combined with background ICS (100 μg fluticasone, bid). Atopic patients andomized in ratio of approximately 1:1:1
QAW039 + MontelukastEXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 Once a day (q.d.)EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 Twice a day (b.i.d.)EXPERIMENTAL -
MontelukastACTIVE_COMPARATOR -
QAW039 po dose 1EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 2EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 3EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 4EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 5EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 6EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 7EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 8EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 9EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 10EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 11EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 12EXPERIMENTAL -
QAW039 po dose 13EXPERIMENTAL -
Montelukast po 10 mgACTIVE_COMPARATORComparator leukotriene receptor antagonist (LRTA)
Group 1EXPERIMENTALESRD patients
Group 2EXPERIMENTALhealthy volunteers
Group 3EXPERIMENTALsevere and moderate renal impaired patients
Group 4EXPERIMENTALmild renal impaired patients

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
QAW039DRUGQAW039 once daily
PlaceboDRUGPlacebo once daily
Placebo QAW039DRUGMatching placebo for QAW039 supplied as hard gelatin capsule were identical in appearance to their active counterparts. Patients took 3 QAW039 matching placebo capsules once a day ( taken with food in the morning) for the approximate period of the study (12 weeks)
Fluticasone 250 mcgDRUGFluticasone was supplied in inhalers with dose strength of 250 mcg. Patients took 250 mcg bid (morning and evening approximately 12 hours between doses) for a total dose of 500 mcg daily for the approximate period of the study (12 weeks).
Fluticasone 100 mcgDRUGBackground therapy - fluticasone was supplied in inhalers with dose strength of 100 mcg. All patients in the study other than the Atopic Fluticasone 150 mcg arm were given the 100 mcg dose strength inhalers and took fluticasone 100 mcg bid (taken morning and evening with approximately 12 hours between doses) as background therapy for the approximate period of the study (12 weeks).
MontelukastDRUG -
QAW39ADRUG450 mg
QAW39A2107DRUG450 mg
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range12 Years to N/A
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersNo
Study Sites110

Inclusion Criteria: * 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 m...

Countries:United StatesArgentinaGermanyHungaryMexicoPhilippinesSaudi ArabiaSlovakiaSouth AfricaTurkey (Türkiye)BrazilBulgariaCanadaColombiaIndiaIsraelItalyPeruPuerto RicoRussiaSouth KoreaSpainSwedenTunisiaVietnamAustraliaAustriaBelgiumChinaDenmarkEstoniaFinlandFranceGreeceGuatemalaIcelandIrelandLatviaLithuaniaPolandRomaniaSingaporeSwitzerlandUnited KingdomCzechiaJapanLebanonMalaysiaNetherlandsSerbiaTaiwan
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Frequently asked questions about QAW039

What is QAW039 used for?

QAW039 is an investigational small molecule being studied for respiratory and inflammatory conditions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and renal insufficiency. It is in Phase 2 clinical development and is not approved for any use.

Who is developing QAW039?

QAW039 is being developed by Novartis AG, a global pharmaceutical company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker NVS. The drug is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.

What phase is QAW039 in?

QAW039 is in Phase 2 clinical development. All seven completed trials were Phase 2 studies, and the drug remains investigational, meaning it has not been approved by regulatory authorities.

What clinical trials has QAW039 been in?

QAW039 has been studied in seven completed Phase 2 trials. Key studies include NCT01545726 in asthma with sputum eosinophilia, NCT01785602 in moderate to severe atopic dermatitis, NCT01804400 in allergic rhinitis, and NCT01836471 in non-atopic asthma.

Is QAW039 the same as montelukast?

No, QAW039 is not the same as montelukast. In one clinical trial, NCT01804400, QAW039 and montelukast were tested both individually and together to compare their effects in allergic rhinitis, indicating they are distinct drugs.