Efficacy and Safety of Lifei Qingchang Granules for Stable Bronchiectasis

Official title

A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Study on the Efficacy and Safety of Lifei Qingchang Granules for Stable Bronchiectasis

Overview

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Lifei Qingchang Granules in the treatment of patients with stable bronchiectasis. This is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Researchers plan to enroll a total of 150 adult participants (aged 18-75) who have been diagnosed with stable bronchiectasis and experience at least one acute exacerbation in the past 12 months. Participants will be randomly assigned into two groups in a 1:1 ratio: * The treatment group will receive Lifei Qingchang Granules along with standard postural drainage therapy. * The control group will receive a matching placebo along with standard postural drainage therapy. The treatment period will last for 3 months. The main goal is to see if the treatment can improve patients' respiratory symptoms and overall quality of life.

Detailed description

Bronchiectasis is characterized by pathological dilation of the bronchi, with main symptoms including chronic cough and expectoration. Currently, there is no specific cure, making it an urgent clinical problem. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the pathogenesis of bronchiectasis is closely related to "phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs".

Lifei Qingchang Granule is an in-hospital preparation patented by the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Patent No.: ZL202110246137.5, Guangdong Medical Preparation No. Z20240007001). Previous clinical observations suggest it effectively reduces acute exacerbations, decreases hemoptysis, and lowers hospitalization rates. This study aims to conduct a pre-clinical study for the transformation of this in-hospital preparation into a new drug.

This prospective, multicenter study plans to enroll 150 participants. Eligible participants must meet the diagnostic criteria for stable bronchiectasis, exhibit the TCM syndrome of "phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs," and have a history of at least one acute exacerbation in the previous 12 months.

Participants will be stratified based on their previous 12-month exacerbation frequency (\<3 and ≥3 times) and randomized via an Interactive Web Response System (IWRS) into the herbal treatment group or the placebo group. Both groups will receive standardized postural drainage.

The primary efficacy endpoint is the change from baseline in the respiratory dimension score of the Quality of Life-Bronchiectasis questionnaire at month 3. Secondary endpoints include the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) score, 24-hour sputum volume, sputum characteristics (color and consistency), sputum bacteriology, TCM symptom scores, and pulmonary function tests (FVC, FEV1) at month 3. Safety assessments, including vital signs, laboratory tests, and adverse event monitoring, will be conducted throughout the study.

Interventions

• Drug Lifei Qingchang Granules
  A Traditional Chinese Medicine in-hospital preparation (Patent No.: ZL202110246137.5). Administered orally, 1 sachet per dose, 3 doses per day for 3 months.
• Other Placebo
  An inactive matching placebo primarily composed of dextrin, lactose, edible essence, and food coloring. Administered orally, 1 sachet per dose, 3 doses per day for 3 months.
• Procedure Postural Drainage
  Standardized postural drainage therapy to assist in sputum clearance.

Primary outcome measures

• Change from Baseline in the Respiratory Domain Score of the Quality of Life-Bronchiectasis (QOL-B) Questionnaire [Time frame: Baseline and Month 3 (Day 84)]

Secondary outcome measures (5)

• Change from Baseline in St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) Score [Time frame: Baseline and Month 3 (Day 84)]
• Change from Baseline in 24-hour Sputum Volume [Time frame: Baseline and Month 3 (Day 84)]
• Change from Baseline in Pulmonary Function (FVC and FEV1) [Time frame: Baseline and Month 3 (Day 84)]
• Change from Baseline in Sputum Characteristics (Color and Consistency) Score [Time frame: Baseline and Month 3 (Day 84)]
• Change from Baseline in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Syndrome Score [Time frame: Baseline and Month 3 (Day 84)]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Aged 18 to 75 years old, regardless of sex.
• Diagnosed with bronchiectasis confirmed by High-Resolution Computed Tomography (HRCT) scan.
• Bronchiectasis is currently in the stable phase.
• Experienced at least one acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis within the previous 12 months.
• Diagnosed with the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome of "Phlegm-Heat Obstructing the Lungs".
• Able to understand the study protocol and voluntarily sign the informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Allergic to any ingredients of the investigational drug or placebo.
• Comorbid with other severe systemic diseases (e.g., coronary heart disease, stroke, severe hypertension \[systolic BP ≥ 180 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥ 110 mmHg\], active gastric ulcer, uncontrolled diabetes \[fasting venous blood glucose ≥ 10 mmol/L\], malignant tumors, abnormal liver or kidney function \[AST, ALT, or GGT > 2 times the upper limit of normal; or serum creatinine > 2 times the upper limit of normal\]) or psychiatric disorders.
• Comorbid with asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), or active pulmonary tuberculosis.
• Comorbid with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and presenting COPD as the primary clinical manifestation (as judged by the investigator).
• Use of inhaled, oral, or intravenous antibiotics within 4 weeks prior to enrollment.
• Type 2 respiratory failure requiring long-term non-invasive mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy (> 10 hours/day).
• History of drug abuse, psychotropic drug dependence, or alcohol abuse.
• Current smokers or those unable to stop smoking during the study.
• Pregnant or lactating women, planning to become pregnant during the study, or refusing to use reliable contraceptive methods throughout the study period.
• Participation in any other clinical trials within 3 months prior to enrollment.
• Considered unsuitable for participation in this clinical study by the investigator.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Quadruple blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

China · 3 centers

• The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University — Guangzhou
• The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University — Guangzhou
• The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University — Guangzhou

Publications

• Yuanlong H, Wanyan L, Jiamin Z, Shangke G, Yingsi D, Ran L, Zhu L, Shiting D, Min H, Zhiming P, Qifen H, Zhijuan W, Xinghua S, Shouxie H, Zhenqiu L, Dapeng Z, Wenju L, Zhimin Z. Lifei Qingchang Granules alleviate airway inflammation in a mouse model of bronchiectasis by inhibiting neutrophil extracellular traps. J Ethnopharmacol. 2026 Feb 10;356:120855. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2025.120855. Epub 2025 No PMID 41192693
• Huang QF, Zeng JM, Hu YL, Li WY, Yu QH, Wang P, Ren PH, Peng Y, Guan WJ, Lin R, Li ZQ, Tan WL, Zhu HP, Huang SX, Zhang DP, Jie ZC, Wu ZJ, Zhang ZM. Lifei Qingchang Tang attenuates acute lung injury via the NF-kappaB and MAPK signaling pathways. J Asian Nat Prod Res. 2025 Nov;27(11):1690-1705. doi: 10.1080/10286020.2025.2473648. Epub 2025 Mar 12. PMID 40072449
• Zhang ZM, Ren PH, Wu ZJ, Zhang DP, Xie WJ. Personalized alternative therapy of intractable bronchiectasis-induced hemoptysis in a patient: syndrome differentiation and treatment according to individual physique category. J Thorac Dis. 2013 Jun;5(3):E115-7. doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2072-1439.2013.06.26. No abstract available. PMID 23825784
• Zhang ZM, Ren PH, Guan WJ. Symptom-based treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine in bronchiectasis patients with hemoptysis. J Thorac Dis. 2017 Sep;9(9):E884-E886. doi: 10.21037/jtd.2017.08.170. No abstract available. PMID 29221370

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07523165 · GMUCR2025-01009

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗