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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Effect of Ensifentrine on Sputum Markers of Inflammation in COPD

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Two-period Cross-over Study of the Effect of Ensifentrine on Sputum Markers of Inflammation in Patients With COPD

Effect of Ensifentrine on Sputum Markers of Inflammation in COPD (NCT05270525) is a Phase 2 interventional studying COPD, sponsored by Verona Pharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, New Jersey USA. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period cross-over study of nebulized ensifentrine (3 mg) or placebo administered BID for two 8-week Treatment Periods. All participants with receive both ensifentrine and placebo during participation. There are 7 in-clinic visits over a total duration of up to 24 weeks participation.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against COPD and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

Target enrollment of 56 participants puts this in the typical range for a Phase 2-style efficacy study or a moderate Phase 3 trial in a focused COPD subpopulation. At this scale, the study has enough statistical power to detect a clear treatment effect but is not the largest cohort in the field.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: Male and female patients 40-80 years of age with a history of cigarette smoking ≥10 pack years and an established clinical history of COPD as defined by the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines with symptoms compatible with COPD. COPD Severity: Pre- and Post-albuterol/salbutamol FEV1/FVC ratio of \<0.70; Post-albuterol/salbutamol FEV1 ≥30 % and ≤80% of predicted normal calculated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Regular use of bronchodilator COPD therapy, in any form (e.g., LAMA, LABA, LAMA+LABA, LAMA+LABA+ICS), for at least 4 weeks prior to Screening and agrees to use study supplied COPD Maintenance Therapy once daily through the final study visit. Capable of using the jet nebulizer correctly and complying with all study restrictions and procedures. Ability to perform acceptable spirometry in accordance with ATS/ERS guidelines. Ability to produce sputum samples during the induced sputum procedure. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: Any clinically diagnosed lung disease other than COPD such as current asthma, diffuse interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, or clinically significant bronchiectasis as determined by the Investigator. Hospitalizations for COPD, pneumonia, or Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the 12 weeks prior to Screening; or a positive COVID-19 test result indicating an active infection at Screening.\*Note: Patients with a positive COVID-19 antibody test from a past exposure who do not exhibit symptoms of an active COVID-19 infection are eligible to participate in the study. \*A COVID-19 test may be performed at the visit or within 7 days prior to the visit (or as required locally). Asymptomatic patients with a positive COVID-19 test result indicating an active infection \< 30 days prior to Screening or at Screening may be re-screened for eligibility after 30 days (or in accordance with local requirements). ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: Male and female patients 40-80 years of age with a history of cigarette smoking ≥10 pack years and an established clinical history of COPD as defined by the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) guidelines with symptoms compatible with COPD. COPD Severity: Pre- and Post-albuterol/salbutamol FEV1/FVC ratio of \<0.70; Post-albuterol/salbutamol FEV1 ≥30 % and ≤80% of predicted normal calculated using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III. Regular use of bronchodilator COPD therapy, in any form (e.g., LAMA, LABA, LAMA+LABA, LAMA+LABA+ICS), for at least 4 weeks prior to Screening and agrees to use study supplied COPD Maintenance Therapy once daily through the final study visit. Capable of using the jet nebulizer correctly and complying with all study restrictions and procedures. Ability to perform acceptable spirometry in accordance with ATS/ERS guidelines. Ability to produce sputum samples during the induced sputum procedure. Exclusion Criteria: Any clinically diagnosed lung disease other than COPD such as current asthma, diffuse interstitial lung diseases, cystic fibrosis, or clinically significant bronchiectasis as determined by the Investigator. Hospitalizations for COPD, pneumonia, or Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the 12 weeks prior to Screening; or a positive COVID-19 test result indicating an active infection at Screening.\*Note: Patients with a positive COVID-19 antibody test from a past exposure who do not exhibit symptoms of an active COVID-19 infection are eligible to participate in the study. \*A COVID-19 test may be performed at the visit or within 7 days prior to the visit (or as required locally). Asymptomatic patients with a positive COVID-19 test result indicating an active infection \< 30 days prior to Screening or at Screening may be re-screened for eligibility after 30 days (or in accordance with local requirements). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≥ 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN), alkaline phosphatase and/or bilirubin \> 1.5 x ULN (isolated bilirubin \>1.5 x ULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin \<35%). HIV infection or other immunodeficiency. History of cancer within the last 5 years, except for well-treated basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. Any clinically significant 12-lead electrocardiogram abnormalities at screening or baseline, including corrected QT interval by Fridericia's correction method \>450 ms for males or \>480 ms for females or history of significant cardiac dysrhythmia, including long QT syndrome. Known history of poor outcomes with sputum induction. Known hypersensitivity to ensifentrine or other medications used in the study (e.g., albuterol or salmeterol). Not suitable for study supplied once daily COPD Maintenance Therapy per label warnings and contraindications. Taking prohibited medication. Prior receipt of Ohtuvayre or blinded nebulized study medication in an ensifentrine (RPL554) study. Note: Other ensifentrine formats (e.g., DPI, MPI) are not exclusionary. Use of an experimental drug within 30 days or 5 half-lives of Screening, whichever is longer, and/or participation in a study treatment-free follow-up phase of a clinical trial within 30 days prior to Screening. Use of an experimental medical device or participation in a follow-up phase of an experimental medical device clinical trial within 30 days prior to Screening. Any other medical history, chronic uncontrolled diseases that the investigator considers clinically significant, examination or laboratory findings or reason that the Investigator considers makes the patient unsuitable to participate at Screening.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Ensifentrine

Ensifentrine twice daily administered with jet nebulizer for 8 weeks

DRUG

Placebo

Placebo ensifentrine twice daily administered with jet nebulizer for 8 weeks

Locations (3)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT05270525), the sponsor (Verona Pharma, Inc., a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc. (Rahway, New Jersey USA), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT05270525 clinical trial studying?

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-period cross-over study of nebulized ensifentrine (3 mg) or placebo administered BID for two 8-week Treatment Periods. All participants with receive both ensifentrine and placebo during participation. There are 7 in-clinic visits over a total duration of up to 24 weeks participation. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT05270525?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT05270525?

Contact information for this trial may be available directly on the ClinicalTrials.gov record. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar for the official source. Always discuss any potential trial with your doctor before contacting the study site.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT05270525. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT05270525. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.