Broad Immunomodulatory Effects of the Dipeptidyl-peptidase-1 Inhibitor Brensocatib in Bronchiectasis: Data from the Phase 2, Double-Blind, Placebo-controlled WILLOW Trial

Emma D Johnson, Merete B Long, Lidia Perea, Vivian H Shih, Carlos Fernandez, Ariel Teper, David Cipolla, Eve McIntosh, Rachel Galloway, Zsofia Eke, Morven Shuttleworth, Rebecca Hull, Arietta Spinou, Anthony De Soyza, Felix C Ringshausen, Pieter Goeminne, Natalie Lorent, Charles Haworth, Michael R Loebinger, Francesco BlasiMichal Shteinberg, Stefano Aliberti, Eva Polverino, Oriol Sibila, Amelia Shoemark, Kevin Mange, Jeffrey T. J. Huang, Jamie Stobo, James D. Chalmers

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

RATIONALE: In the WILLOW trial, the Dipeptidyl peptidase-1 inhibitor brensocatib reduced neutrophil serine protease (NSP) activity and prolonged time to first exacerbation in patients with bronchiectasis.

OBJECTIVES: We hypothesized that, by reducing NSPs, brensocatib would affect antimicrobial peptides, mucins, and cytokines throughout the inflammatory cascade.

METHODS: The WILLOW trial was a phase 2 randomized trial of brensocatib (10mg and 25mg) versus placebo. Sputum was collected at baseline, week 4, week 24 (end of treatment) and week 28 (4 weeks post-treatment). The antimicrobial peptides secretory leukoproteinase inhibitor (SLPI) and α-defensin-3 were measured by ELISA, mucin-5AC (MUC5AC) by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, myeloperoxidase by immunoassay and 45 inflammatory cytokines by Olink ® Target 48 assay. The relationship between these markers and sputum neutrophil elastase was validated using the EMBARC-BRIDGE bronchiectasis cohort.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Of 82 patients randomized to 10mg brensocatib, 87 to 25mg brensocatib, and 87 to placebo, 71, 71 and 73 with sputum available for at least two time points were included. SLPI and α-defensin-3 increased significantly with brensocatib compared to placebo at both week 4 and week 24. MUC5AC reduced in response to treatment. Sub-analysis showed this was primarily among patients with high baseline neutrophil elastase. Myeloperoxidase did not change. 15 cytokines and chemokines increased significantly compared to placebo at week 4 or 28. CXCL10, CCL8, CCL7, CCL3 and IL-6 increased at both doses at both timepoints. In the EMBARC-BRIDGE cohort neutrophil elastase correlated inversely with SLPI, CCL13, IL7, CCL11, CXCL10, CCL8, CCL7, all markers increased by brensocatib.

CONCLUSIONS: Brensocatib exerts broad anti-inflammatory effects beyond its known effects on serine proteases. Clinical trial registration available at www.

CLINICALTRIALS: gov, ID: NCT03218917.

Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
Early online date12 Feb 2025
DOIs
Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 12 Feb 2025

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