Controlled, 12-Week Study of Albuterol HFA Versus the Active Control, Proventil(R)-HFA in Asthmatic Patients

This is a randomized, parallel, multicenter, 12-week study in adolescent and adult patients with mild-to-moderate asthma, to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Armstrong's Albuterol-HFA MDI, in comparison to a Placebo Control and an Active Control of Proventil-HFA. While Albuterol-HFA (Treatment T) and Placebo (Treatment P) will be double-blinded to both the subjects and investigational staff, the active comparator drug, Proventil-HFA (Treatment R), can only be evaluator-blinded, due to: (1) its physical appearance differing from that of the T and P devices; and (2) unavailability of a Proventil-HFA placebo which would otherwise be used for a double-dummy design. All study medications will have the canisters and all product-identifying text or graphics (e.g., molded text on actuator) masked so that the treatments cannot be identified. No subject in any study arm will be given any information that could reveal the nature of the treatment given. All study subjects will be instructed not to reveal or discuss the study medications to the study staff or other subjects. The designated study evaluator(s), who conduct the clinical visits and safety and efficacy evaluations and perform the data recording and transcription, will be blinded to the study medications. All subjects will be screened for enrollment, and will be randomized into the following three treatment groups in a double-blinded (for Treatments T and P) or evaluator-blinded (for Treatment R) manner: Treatment T (Albuterol-HFA, N=200): 216 mcg albuterol sulfate (equivalent to 180 mcg albuterol base), QID; Treatment R (Proventil-HFA, N=50): 216 mcg albuterol sulfate (equivalent to 180 mcg albuterol base), QID; Treatment P (Placebo-HFA, N=50): two actuations of placebo, QID. Randomization is achieved with blocks of six (6), with four (4) patients receiving Albuterol-HFA for every one (1) patient receiving Proventil-HFA and every one (1) receiving the Placebo-HFA. At each Clinical Visit that takes place every 3 weeks, the double-blinded (T, P) or evaluator-blinded (R) study drugs will be distributed in resealable masking pouches to the subjects of each arm. An additional aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of weekly cleaning on the Albuterol-HFA MDI device clinical performance throughout the four, 3-week life-of-device treatment cycles, in conformance with the FDA's specific requirements. Arms: All subjects will be screened for enrollment, and will be randomized into the following three treatment groups in a double-blinded (for Treatments T and P) or evaluator-blinded (for Treatment R) manner: Treatment T (Albuterol-HFA, N=200): 216 mcg albuterol sulfate (equivalent to 180 mcg albuterol base), QID; Treatment R (Proventil-HFA, N=50): 216 mcg albuterol sulfate (equivalent to 180 mcg albuterol base), QID; Treatment P (Placebo-HFA, N=50): two actuations of placebo, QID.