Recruiting
Phase 2

Ensifentrine

Sponsor:

Verona Pharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, New Jersey USA

Code:

NCT06559150

Conditions

Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Nebulized Ensifentrine Suspension; 3 mg

Nebulized Placebo Solution

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study designed to assess the efficacy and safety of ensifentrine inhalation suspension (3 mg) delivered twice daily via standard jet nebulizer up to 52 weeks, compared to placebo, in participants with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFBE).

Conditions

Non-cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis

Study ID

NCT06559150

Start date

Sep 11, 2024

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Sep 24, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Sep 24, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Males are eligible to participate if they agree to use contraception as described in the contraceptive guidance from Screening and throughout the study and for at least 30 days after the last dose of blinded study medication
  • Females are eligible to participate if they are not pregnant, not breastfeeding, and 1 of the following conditions apply:

1. Not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) OR
2. A WOCBP who agrees to follow the contraceptive guidance from Screening throughout the study and for at least 30 days after the last dose of blinded study medication
  • Clinical history consistent with bronchiectasis (cough, chronic sputum production, and/or recurrent respiratory infections) confirmed by chest CT demonstrating bronchiectasis affecting 1 or more lobes. Confirmation may be based on prior chest CT within the prior 5 years; subjects whose past CT image records are not available will require chest CT scan during screening Notes: If a subject has no clinical history consistent with bronchiectasis, they may not be re-screened
  • Current sputum producer with a history of chronic expectoration and able to provide sputum sample spontaneously at the clinic during screening
  • ≥ 1 documented pulmonary exacerbation defined by an antimicrobial prescription (i.e., antibiotic or antiviral) by a physician for the signs and symptoms of respiratory infections in the past 12 months before screening
  • Capable of using the study nebulizer correctly
  • Ability to perform acceptable spirometry in accordance with American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society guidelines as assessed by the Investigator

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A diagnosis of COPD or a primary diagnosis of asthma, as judged by the investigator
  • Bronchiectasis due to cystic fibrosis, primary hypogammaglobulinemia common variable immunodeficiency, severe immunodeficiency, or requirement for treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin
  • Current smoker defined as by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Meets both of the following

1. Former cigarette smokers with a history of cigarette smoking ≥ 10 pack years at Screening \[number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) × number of years smoked (e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years)\]. Pipe and/or cigar use cannot be used to calculate pack-year history. Former smokers are defined as those who have stopped smoking for at least 6 months prior to Screening AND
2. Evidence within 1 year prior to randomization of obstructed lung function as shown by forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio of < 0.70
  • A diagnosis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is not exclusionary. Subjects with a diagnosis of PCD are permitted to be enrolled, but the proportion of subjects with PCD enrolled in the study may be limited
  • Current treatment for nontuberculous mycobacterial lung infection, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, or tuberculosis
  • Presence of acute exacerbation or acute infection that required acute treatment within 28 days of randomization
  • Use of the following prohibited medications within the designated time periods:

1. Chronic, systemic immunomodulatory agents for any chronic indication (including but not limited to the following: methotrexate, systemic corticosteroids, see adalimumab, azathioprine, dupilumab, cyclosporine, hydroxychloroquine, etc.) within 90 days prior to signing the ICF
2. CFTR modulators (e.g., ivacaftor, lumacaftor, tezacaftor) within 1 week prior to signing the ICF
3. Theophylline and oral PDE4 inhibitors (e.g., roflumilast, apremilast, crisaborole) within 48 hours prior to signing the ICF
4. Ohtuvayre at any time prior to signing the ICF
  • Initiated or altered therapy within 90 days prior to randomization with:

1. oral or inhaled antibiotics as chronic treatment (including macrolides)
2. Cyclic antibiotics: defined as prescribed regular cycles of on antibiotic treatment and off antibiotic treatment (for example, but not limited to, 28 days on an antibiotic and 28 days off an antibiotic). Note: Subjects on cyclic antibiotics must be actively taking antibiotics for at least 7 days prior to randomization through the day of randomization
3. Dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (DPP1) or cathepsin C (CatC) inhibitor (e.g., brensocatib)
  • Initiated or altered therapy with ICS within 4 weeks prior to randomization
  • Unable to withhold short-acting beta-agonists or short-acting muscarinic antagonists for ≥ 4 hours prior to spirometry
  • Significant hemoptysis (≥ 300 mL or requiring blood transfusion) within 6 weeks prior to randomization
  • Currently participating in or scheduled to participate in an intensive pulmonary rehabilitation program (a maintenance rehabilitation program is allowed if their schedule and procedure will be consistent for the duration of the study)
  • Current or chronic history of unstable liver disease defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices or persistent jaundice, cirrhosis, or known hepatic or biliary abnormalities except for Gilbert syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones Note: Chronic stable hepatitis B and C is not exclusionary if the subject otherwise meets study entry criteria
  • History of or current malignancy of any organ system, treated or untreated within the past 5 years, except for localized basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 30 mL/min
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 2 × upper limit of normal (ULN), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≥ 2 × ULN, alkaline phosphatase and/or bilirubin > 1.5 × ULN (isolated bilirubin > 1.5 × ULN is acceptable only in subjects with a diagnosis of Gilbert's syndrome)
  • Participation in any other interventional, clinical studies (drugs or devices) within 30 days, or 5 half-lives, whichever is longer, prior to signing the ICF
  • Intolerance of or hypersensitivity to ensifentrine or any of its excipients/components
  • Current or history of drug or alcohol abuse within the past 5 years
  • Significantly abnormal ECG finding

Study Design

Enrollment

284 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Treatment Arm 1: Ensifentrine

placebo comparator: Treatment Arm 2: Placebo

Interventions

Nebulized Ensifentrine Suspension; 3 mg

Administered by a standard jet nebulizer, twice daily up to a maximum of 52 weeks

Nebulized Placebo Solution

Administered by a standard jet nebulizer, twice daily up to a maximum of 52 weeks

Primary outcome measure

  • Rate of protocol-defined pulmonary exacerbations (number of events per subject-year) [ Time Frame: Through study completion (up to 52 weeks) ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Verona Pharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway Toll Free Number

Reach out by phone or emailTrialsites@msd.com

Locations

Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital

Recruiting

Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35233

So Cal Institute for Respiratory Diseases, Inc.

Recruiting

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90048

University of California Davis Medical Center

Recruiting

Sacramento, California, United States, 95817

National Jewish Health Main Campus

Recruiting

Denver, Colorado, United States, 80206

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital

Recruiting

Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States, 20007

University of Miami

Recruiting

Miami, Florida, United States, 33136

Emory University at Saint Joseph Pulmonary Clinic

Recruiting

Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30342

Augusta University

Recruiting

Augusta, Georgia, United States, 30912

ASHA Clinical Research

Recruiting

Hammond, Indiana, United States, 46324

University of Iowa

Recruiting

Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242

University of Kansas Medical Center-Kansas City

Recruiting

Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160

Massachusetts General Hospital- 55 Fruit St

Recruiting

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114

University of Michigan Hospital

Recruiting

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109

Mayo Clinic

Recruiting

Rochester, Minnesota, United States, 55905

Washington University School of Medicine

Recruiting

St Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110

NYU Langone Health Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates, P.C. - BRANY - PPDS

Recruiting

New York, New York, United States, 10016

University of North Carolina

Recruiting

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27514

Southeastern Research Center

Recruiting

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27103

Ohio State University

Recruiting

Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43221

Oregon Health and Science University

Recruiting

Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239

Temple University Hospital

Recruiting

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19140

Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) - PPDS

Recruiting

Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425

Velocity Clinical Research - Spartanburg - PPDS

Recruiting

Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States, 29303

Velocity Clinical Research - Union - PPDS

Recruiting

Union, South Carolina, United States, 29379

Clinical Trials Center of Middle Tennessee

Recruiting

Franklin, Tennessee, United States, 37067

The Respire Institute

Recruiting

Houston, Texas, United States, 77094

UT Texas Health Science at Tyler

Recruiting

Tyler, Texas, United States, 75708

TPMG Clinical Research

Recruiting

Williamsburg, Virginia, United States, 23188

More Information

Sponsor

Verona Pharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, New Jersey USA

Last update posted

Aug 6, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-08. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Verona Pharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, New Jersey USA on 2026-08-06.