Treatment With Omalizumab to Improve the Asthmatic Response to Rhinovirus Experimental Infection With Rhinovirus

The study is a randomized, double-blind placebo controlled study involving a group of 42 mild
asthmatics. Subjects will be randomized 1:1 to omalizumab (a humanized monoclonal anti-IgE
antibody) or placebo for 8 weeks and then inoculated with rhinovirus (strain-16 produced
under GMP conditions and approved for this research by the FDA). Clinical and laboratory
(mechanistic) data will be evaluated for 8 weeks before and for 4 weeks after the virus
challenge.

The study is being done to test the hypothesis that the reduction of total free IgE in
asthmatics treated with omalizumab for 8 weeks prior to and during an experimental RV
challenge will lead to a significant decline in lower respiratory tract (chest) symptoms
recorded by subjects during the first four days of infection following the challenge compared
to lower respiratory tract symptoms recorded during the same period by asthmatic subjects who
are treated with placebo.

The primary endpoint will be based on the comparison of cumulative lower respiratory tract
symptoms scores (CLRTS) in the asthmatic subjects treated with omalizumab compared to those
treated with placebo over the first 4 days of acute infection. Diary cards will be scored
daily for cough, shortness of breath, chest discomfort and wheezing using a modification of
the Jackson criteria. To participate in this study, subjects must live within 90 minutes by
car from the University of Virginia.

Note: This protocol has been reviewed and is being monitored for safety by the NIH/NIAID
Safety Monitoring Committee and by he IRB at the University of Virginia (IRB-HSR# 14427).

Inclusion Criteria:

- Subjects must be able to understand and provide written informed consent

- Age 18 to 40 years of age, any gender, any racial/ethnic origin

- Physician-diagnosed asthma

- Asthma Control Test (ACT) score > 19

- Short-acting beta-agonist use < daily in last 4 weeks

- Forced expired volume at 1 second (FEV1) > 70%, or FEV1/FVC ratio > 75% for subjects
with forced vital capacity (FVC) values between 80 and 87% predicted whose FEV1 values
fall below 70%.

- Positive Methacholine challenge test (i.e. at least 20% fall in FEV1 at a Methacholine
concentration of ≤16 mg/ml) at screening protocol before enrollment.

- Total serum IgE level greater than or equal to 125 IU/ml evaluated during screening
protocol.

- Positive test for allergic sensitization by prick skin testing documented during
screening protocol. to allergens associated with current allergen exposure at the time
of the rhinovirus (RV) challenge: e.g., dust mite, Alternaria, and/or ragweed for
subjects challenged with RV in the fall, or positive tests to tree and/or grass pollen
allergens for those challenged with RV in the spring. In keeping with the study design
goals of inoculating subjects during periods of allergen exposure, sensitization to
other allergens (e.g., cat or dog) will also qualify for enrollment if subjects are
currently exposed to these allergens at home.

Participant must be willing to comply with study procedures and requirements.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability or unwillingness of a participant or subject's legal representative to give
written informed consent and HIPPA authorization

- Positive test for serum neutralizing antibody to rhinovirus (strain-16) at screening
within 6 weeks (i.e., subjects with a neutralizing antibody titer > 1:4 will be
excluded).

- To avoid RV-16 inoculations in subjects with more restrictive lung volumes, those
whose FVC is < 80% predicted will also be excluded.

- Total IgE levels measured at screening protocol that are too elevated based on a
subjects weight, to meet the recommendations for treatment with Omalizumab.

- Chronic heart disease, lung diseases other than asthma, or other chronic illnesses,
including primary and/or secondary immunodeficiency.

Hospitalization or treatment in the ER for asthma (unless the treatment involved the use of
a bronchodilator only) during the last three years.

- Subjects who have had one or more night time awakenings caused by asthma symptoms
and/or who have needed their short acting beta-2 agonist (SABA; e.g., albuterol)
inhaler for asthma symptoms > 4 days during the week before enrollment, or during the
week before the virus challenge.

- Intubation or management in the intensive care unit for an asthma exacerbation

- An upper or lower respiratory tract infection within six weeks prior to enrollment

- Previous nasal or sinus surgery within the last 12 months.

- Who have a 5 pack/year history of smoking, or any smoking within the last 6 months.

- Female subjects who are, or who plan to become, pregnant during the study, or who are
nursing a baby. Additionally, to be included in this study, a woman of child-bearing
potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test at screening, during the run, and
prior to viral inoculation and agree to use an effective method of birth control such
as, but not limited to, birth control pills, contraceptive foam, diaphragm, intra
uterine device (IUD), abstinence, or condoms.

- Subjects who have used omalizumab within 12 months prior to enrollment, or inhaled
corticosteroids,inhaled ipratropium bromide, an inhaled long acting beta agonist,
inhaled cromolyn or nedocromil or systemic leukotriene modifiers for their asthma on a
daily basis within 4 weeks prior to enrollment or subjects using nasal corticosteroids
on a daily basis within 4 weeks prior to enrollment. Subjects who are currently
receiving beta-adrenergic blocking agents.

- Subjects who are currently receiving allergen immunotherapy (IT), or who have received
allergen IT within the last 3 years.

- Hemoglobin <11.5 g/dL for non-African American subjects or hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dL for
African American subjects detected during screening within 6 weeks of enrollment.

- Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1800 cells/mm3 (or 1.8 K/uL) detected during
screening within 6 weeks of enrollment or prior to virus inoculation.