Atorvastatin Effect on Reduction of COPD Exacerbations

It will be a randomized, double-blind, two arm clinical study to assess effect of atorvastatin 40 mg treatment in patients with stable COPD. The whole study duration will include three phases: pre-study screening and enrollment procedures (4 weeks), clinical assessment at dosing (52 weeks), and post study follow up (4 weeks). During the participation in the study subjects will attend Visit 1 (V1, -4 weeks), visit 2 (V2, day 0), visit 3 (V3, week6), visit 4 (V4, week 12), visit 5 (V5, week 26), visit 6 (V6, week 38), visit 7 (V7, week 52), and follow-up end of study visit (EOS, 56 weeks). The study will begin with a 4-weeks screening phase where patients who fulfill preliminary inclusion/exclusion criteria (prior to entry into study), will be given informed consent and screened. The baseline laboratory tests, clinical and medical evaluation including concomitant medication and drug of abuse will be completed to determine patient continuing eligibility to participate in the study. Upon confirmation of eligibility, the patients will be randomized into two treatment groups receiving one of two medications tested in the study. Each patient enrolled into the clinical study will have to report to the clinic 7 times in order to complete procedures. Blood will be drawn before and during the statin or placebo treatment from patients according to study protocol. This part of the project aims to develop statin response biomarkers for personalized treatment of COPD, based on RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) information derived from, leukocytes and blood plasma of COPD patients with characterized clinical Atorvastatin response phenotypes.