Probiotic pill could tame COPD Flare-Ups, early trial hopes

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Subjects with a clinically documented history of COPD for at least 1 year in accordance with the definition by the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society. * Subjects must present with the following: a measured pre and post-salbutamol Forced expiratory volume in one second/ Forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) ratio of \<0.70 to confirm the diagnosis of COPD; a measured post-salbutamol FEV1\>20% and ≤80% of predicted normal values * Baseline mMRC dyspnea score 1 to 3 * Post-bronchodilator FEV1 \> 50% predicted (GOLD COPD grade 1-2) * Smoking pack years ≥ 10 years * Age ≥ 40 years * Acceptable standard-of-care COPD maintenance therapy includes long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs), long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMAs), inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), or combinations thereof (e.g., dual LABA/LAMA, or triple LABA/LAMA/ICS therapy). The patient must have been on a stable dose and regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to screening with no changes anticipated during the study unless medically necessary. * A history of ≥ 1 exacerbations in the last 12 months * Be able to provide written consent; compliant with study procedures and study visits. Exclusion Criteria: * Patients whose treatment is considered palliative (life expectancy \<12 months) Comorbid severe lung disease, such as bronchiectasis, pulmonary fibrosis * Current smoker or cessation within 3 months of screening, or current use of vaping device * Patients with pneumonia or COPD exacerbation or lower respiratory infections within the 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 * Uncontrolled co-morbid conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension and heart failure \[e.g. New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III (e.g. less than ordinary activity causes fatigue, palpitation, or dyspnea), and class IV (e.g. Symptoms of heart failure at rest)\] that will affect the study. * Myocardial infarction, unstable angina or stroke within 12 months prior to screening * Diagnosis of malignancy within 5 years of study Day 1(except for excised localized carcinoma of skin not including malignant melanoma) * Clinically significant ECG changes, which in the opinion of investigator warrants further investigations * Evidence of alcohol, drug or solvent abuse. * Pregnant, breastfeeding, or lactating women. Women of child-bearing potential (i.e. not surgically sterilized or post- menopausal) must have a negative blood serum pregnancy test performed at the screening visit and must agree to use two methods of birth control (one of which must be a barrier method) for at least 3 months past the last day on the study. * Participation in an interventional clinical study within 3 months of study Day 1 or receipt of any investigational medicinal product within 3 months or 5 half- lives. * Lung volume reduction surgery or bronchoscopic lung volume reduction within the last 12 months. * Historical or current evidence of clinically significant neurological, psychiatric, renal, hepatic, immunological, endocrine (including uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease) or hematological abnormalities that are uncontrolled. Significant is defined as any disease that, in the opinion of the investigator, would put the safety of the subject at risk through participation, or which would affect the efficacy or safety analysis if the disease/condition exacerbated during the study. * Other conditions that could lead to elevated eosinophils such as Hypereosinophilic syndromes including Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis, or Eosinophilic Esophagitis. * Cirrhosis or current unstable liver disease defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminemia, esophageal or gastric varices, or persistent jaundice. Stable noncirrhotic chronic liver disease (including Gilbert's syndrome, asymptomatic gallstones, and chronic stable hepatitis B or C -e.g., presence of hepatitis B surface antigen \[HbsAg\] or positive hepatitis C antibody test result) is acceptable if the participant otherwise meets entry criteria. * Active blood born infection (e.g. HIV, Hepatitis A, B or C) * Current or recent (\<2 weeks) treatment with oral steroids, theophylline, chronic azithromycin or other methylxanthines, roflumilast, or Dupixent * Current infection or antibiotic treatment * Use of probiotics within 2 weeks of study Day 1 * Subjects with a current diagnosis of asthma (those with a prior history are eligible if they meet inclusion criteria for a current diagnosis of COPD) * Subjects receiving treatment with oxygen more than 4.0 Litres/minute (L/min). While breathing supplemental oxygen, subjects should demonstrate oxyhemoglobin saturation greater than or equal to 89 percent.