The design of AIRTIVITY – a research study of verducatib as a potential new type of treatment for bronchiectasis: a plain language summary

Plain Language SummaryWhat is this summary about?This plain language summary describes the design of a study called AIRTIVITY. The study is testing a potential new treatment in people with a lung disease called bronchiectasis.What is bronchiectasis and what is verducatib?Bronchiectasis is the third most common long-term lung disease worldwide after asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A key feature of bronchiectasis is the long-term inflammation in the airways of the lungs, called bronchi. This ongoing inflammation damages the airways and is associated with infection and mucus becoming trapped. These elements work together, leading to more frequent disease ‘flare-ups’, known as exacerbations, which consist of increased daily symptoms (these can include increased coughing, change in the amount, thickness or color of sputum, chest discomfort, feeling tired and unwell, and coughing up blood) and can cause the disease to get worse. Flare-ups may also lead to hospital treatment. Bronchiectasis is a progressive disease, which means that it is a condition that worsens over time. The progressive nature of bronchiectasis and its symptoms stop people from living a ‘normal’ life.Verducatib (formerly known as BI 1291583) is a potential new treatment for bronchiectasis. Verducatib has been investigated in recent studies of bronchiectasis and findings have been positive. For example, treatment with verducatib in people with bronchiectasis has been shown to increase the time before people experience their first flare-up after starting the study.What is the AIRTIVITY study and what are the study goals?AIRTIVITY is an international study that is looking at how well verducatib works in a large group of people with bronchiectasis, and what possible adverse (undesirable) health-related events occur during treatment. The AIRTIVITY study started in June 2025. People receive either verducatib tablets or placebo tablets (which look and taste the same as the verducatib tablets but do not contain any active ingredients). Each person takes a tablet every day for at least 12 months and for up to approximately 17 months. The main goal of the study is to see if verducatib is effective at treating people with bronchiectasis. Researchers are testing this by looking at how many flare-ups people have during the study. The study is also assessing any changes to lung function and bronchiectasis symptoms experienced by each person. The study aims to provide evidence in a large group of people that verducatib can be used as a treatment for people with bronchiectasis. This is important because large studies help confirm whether a treatment works consistently and is suitable for use in real life.How to say (download PDF and double click sound icon to play sound)…Aeruginosa: ay-ruh-jih-noh-suhBronchiectasis: bronk-ee-ek-tuh-sisDipeptidyl peptidase 1: dye-pep-tih-dile pep-tih-dayz wunNeutrophil serine proteases: nyoo-truh-fil see-reen pro-tee-ayz-izPlacebo: pluh-see-bohProtease: pro-tee-azeVerducatib: ver-doo-kah-tibThis is an abstract of the Plain Language Summary of Publication article.