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Roflumilast or Azithromycin to Prevent COPD Exacerbations (RELIANCE)

Phase 4
Recruiting
Conditions
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Severe
Chronic Bronchitis
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT04069312
Lead Sponsor
Johns Hopkins University
Brief Summary

A multi-center, randomized, 72-month, parallel- group, non-inferiority, phase III study to compare the effectiveness of roflumilast (Daliresp, 500 mcg quaque die (QD) or alternate regimen) therapy versus azithromycin (250 mg QD, 500 mg QD three times per week, or alternate regimen) to prevent hospitalization or death in a patients at high risk for COPD exacerbations.

Detailed Description

RELIANCE is a U.S.-based pragmatic clinical trial funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to compare long-term use of roflumilast vs. azithromycin in up to 1,250 patients. It is intended to support hospital efforts to reduce the risk of all-cause hospitalization and reduce pre-mature deaths in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have been hospitalized in the prior year for a COPD exacerbation. The COPD Patient Powered Research Network (PPRN) and affiliated investigators will conduct the trial in sites in the U.S.

Both roflumilast and azithromycin have been shown to reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations compared to placebo. However, there has not been a head-to-head comparison of the two medications. So, the relative harms and benefits of the two medications are unknown. Eligible patients will be randomized (1:1) to receive either a prescription for roflumilast or a prescription for azithromycin, and will be followed for at least 6 and up to 72 months. The primary endpoint is the combined outcome of all-cause hospitalization or death; the secondary endpoints include premature treatment discontinuation, patient-reported adverse effects, and physical, social, and emotional health. Patients will be enrolled at participating clinical sites and follow up data will be collected via an online patient portal or via a call center. Baseline and outcome data will also be collected from site medical records and administrative/claims databases.

Pragmatic, non-inferiority trial using an intention-to-treat analysis to evaluate whether daily azithromycin is non-inferior to daily roflumilast in patients at high risk of COPD exacerbations. The investigators will randomize individual patients to receive prescriptions for roflumilast or azithromycin (1:1 ratio), stratified by site and current smoking status (yes/no).

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1250
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patient and treating clinician considering treatment intensification with roflumilast or azithromycin to reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations
  • Age ≥ 40 years
  • Current or past smoker of at least 10 pack-years
  • Diagnosis of severe COPD and associated chronic bronchitis
  • Hospitalized with a diagnosis of COPD exacerbation or respiratory complications due to COVID 19 in the past 12 months
  • Current medications include inhaled Long Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA), Long Acting Beta Agonist (LABA) /LAMA, or Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) /LABA
  • English or Spanish speaking
Exclusion Criteria
  • Unable or declines to provide informed consent;
  • Declines to provide social security number or health insurance claims number (as applicable)
  • History of intolerance to azithromycin or roflumilast that the patient or patient's treating clinician considers sufficiently serious to avoid either treatment option;
  • Current treatment with long-term (more than 30 days) roflumilast or azithromycin (previous treatment with 1 or more doses of azithromycin or roflumilast is not an exclusion criterion, as long as the patient and clinician are seeking treatment intensification options and would be willing to use azithromycin or roflumilast, as per randomized treatment assignment.)
  • Known hypersensitivity to azithromycin, erythromycin, any macrolide or ketolide antibiotic;
  • History of cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction associated with prior use of azithromycin
  • Moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C)
  • Current pregnancy
  • Any other clinician-determined exclusion as per the clinician's clinical practice

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Roflumilast armRoflumilastParticipants will receive prescription for Roflumilast (250 mcg/day x 4 weeks, then 500 mcg/day or alternate regimen) x 6 to 72 months
Azithromycin armAzithromycinParticipants will receive prescription for Azithromycin (250 mg/day, or 500 mg three times per week, or alternate regimen) x 6 to 72 months
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of All-cause hospitalizationsUp to 72 months

All-cause hospitalizations

Number of All-cause deathsUp to 72 months

All-cause deaths

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in physical function as assessed by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scaleBaseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months

Based on the scoring scale; a score of 5 is the most favorable and a score of 1 is least favorable.

Change in fatigue as assessed by the PROMIS scaleBaseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months

0 is most favorable and 4 and least favorable

Change in depression as assessed by the PROMIS scaleBaseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months

1 is most favorable and 5 is least favorable

Number of participants that switch to alternate study medicationUp to 72 months

Patient will be assigned either azithromycin or roflumilast at randomization. We will assess any switch to either roflumilast from azithromycin or azithromycin from roflumilast by self-report via Call Center or Patient Portal, query of clinic staff; Medicare claims data in a subset

Number of participants that discontinued medicationUp to 72 months

This will be collected by self-report via Call Center or Patient Portal; query of clinic staff; Medicare claims data in a subset

Change in problems with sleep as assessed by the PROMIS scaleBaseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months

1 is least favorable and 5 is most favorable

Change in anxiety as assessed by the PROMIS scaleBaseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 36 months

Score of 1 is most favorable and 5 is least favorable

Number of All-cause individual eventsUp to 72 months

All-cause individual events

Number of Adverse EventsUp to 72 months

Adverse events

Medication Adherence as assessed by patient self-reportUp to 72 months

Medication Adherence will be assessed by self-report via Call Center or Patient Portal; Medicare claims data in a subset.

Out of pocket cost for study medicationUp to 72 months

Out of pocket costs for roflumilast of azithromycin by self-report via Call Center or Patient Portal

Change in weight3 and 6 months

Weight in lbs

Trial Locations

Locations (27)

Houston Methodist Hospital

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

Mount Sinai

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

University of Michigan

🇺🇸

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Henry Ford Health System

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

University of Missouri, Kansas City

🇺🇸

Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Baystate Health

🇺🇸

Springfield, Massachusetts, United States

Duke

🇺🇸

Durham, North Carolina, United States

Kaiser Permanente

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Providence Health and Services

🇺🇸

Spokane, Washington, United States

University of Vermont

🇺🇸

Burlington, Vermont, United States

Johns Hopkins University

🇺🇸

Baltimore, Maryland, United States

University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Cleveland Clinic

🇺🇸

Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Ohio State University

🇺🇸

Columbus, Ohio, United States

University of Alabama

🇺🇸

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Northwestern

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

University of California, Davis Health

🇺🇸

Sacramento, California, United States

University of Illinois, Chicago

🇺🇸

Chicago, Illinois, United States

NorthShore Hospital

🇺🇸

Glenview, Illinois, United States

University of Iowa

🇺🇸

Iowa City, Iowa, United States

University of North Carolina, School of Medicine

🇺🇸

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States

Temple University Hospital

🇺🇸

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Pittsburg Medical Center

🇺🇸

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

University of Kansas

🇺🇸

Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Ochsner Medical Center

🇺🇸

New Orleans, Louisiana, United States

Baylor Scott & White (BSW) Health-North

🇺🇸

Dallas, Texas, United States

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