Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A 52-week Treatment, Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Double Dummy, Parallel-group, Active Controlled Study to Compare the Effect of QVA149 (Indacaterol Maleate / Glycopyrronium Bromide) With Salmeterol/Fluticasone on the Rate of Exacerbations in Subjects With Moderate to Very Severe COPD. (FLAME).
Brief Summary: This study will assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of QVA149 in patients with moderate to very severe COPD.


Options:
A: Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment is performed
* Male or female adults aged ≥40 years
* Patients with stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ( COPD) according to the current GOLD strategy (GOLD 2011)
* Current or ex-smokers who have a smoking history of at least 10 pack years. (Ten pack-years are defined as 20 cigarettes a day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes a day for 20 years)
* Patients with a post-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) ≥25 and \< 60% of the predicted normal value, and post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC (Forced Vital Capacity) \< 0.70 at day -28. (Post refers to 1 hour after sequential inhalation of 84 µg (or equivalent dose) of ipratropium bromide and 400 µg of salbutamol)
* A documented history of at least 1 COPD exacerbation in the previous 12 months that required treatment with systemic glucocorticosteroids and/or antibiotics
* Patients taking stable COPD medication (at least 60 days) prior to day 28
* Patients with an mMRC grade of at least 2 at day 28

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant or nursing (lactating) women, where pregnancy is defined as the state of a female after conception and until the termination of gestation, confirmed by a positive hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) laboratory test
* Women of child-bearing potential, defined as all women physiologically capable of becoming pregnant, unless they are using effective methods of contraception during dosing of study treatment. Women are considered post-menopausal and not of child bearing potential if they have had 12 months of natural (spontaneous) amenorrhea with an appropriate clinical profile (e.g. age appropriate, history of vasomotor symptoms) or have had surgical bilateral oophorectomy (with or without hysterectomy) or tubal ligation at least six weeks ago. In the case of oophorectomy alone, only when the reproductive status of the woman has been confirmed by follow up hormone level assessment is she considered not of child bearing potential
* Patients with Type I or uncontrolled Type II diabetes
* Patients with a history of long QT syndrome or whose QTc measured at day 28 (Fridericia method) is prolonged (\>450 ms for males and females) and confirmed by a central assessor. These patients should not be re-screened
* Patients who have a clinically significant ECG abnormality prior to randomization. (These patients should not be re-screened)
* Patients who have a clinically significant laboratory abnormality at screening
* Patients who have clinically significant renal, cardiovascular (such as but not limited to unstable ischemic heart disease, NYHA Class III/IV left ventricular failure, myocardial infarction), arrhythmia (see below for patients with atrial fibrillation), neurological, endocrine, immunological, psychiatric, gastrointestinal, hepatic, or hematological abnormalities which could interfere with the assessment of the efficacy and safety of the study treatment
* Patients with paroxysmal (e.g. intermittent) atrial fibrillation are excluded
* Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation as defined by continuous atrial fibrillation for at least 6 months and controlled with a rate control strategy (i.e., selective beta blocker, calcium channel blocker, pacemaker placement, digoxin or ablation therapy) for at least 6 months may be considered for inclusion. In such patients, atrial fibrillation must be present at both pre-randomization visits, with a resting ventricular rate \< 100/min. At screening the atrial fibrillation must be confirmed by central reading
* Patients contraindicated for treatment with, or having a history of reactions/ hypersensitivity to any of the following inhaled drugs, drugs of a similar class or any component thereof: anticholinergic agents, long and short acting beta-2 agonists, sympathomimetic amines, lactose or any of the other excipients of trial medication
* Patients with a history of malignancy of any organ system, treated or untreated, within the past 5 years whether or not there is evidence of local recurrence or metastases, with the exception of localized basal cell carcinoma of the skin
* Patients with narrow-angle glaucoma, symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia or bladder-neck obstruction or moderate to severe renal impairment or urinary retention. Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) patients who are stable on treatment can be considered
* Patients who have not achieved an acceptable spirometry results at screening in accordance with American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS) criteria for acceptability (one retest may be performed for patients that don't meet the acceptability criteria)
* Patients who have had a COPD exacerbation that required treatment with antibiotics and/or systemic corticosteroids and/or hospitalization in the 6 weeks prior to screening
* Patients who develop a COPD exacerbation of any severity (mild/moderate/severe) between screening and treatment will not be eligible but will be permitted to be re-screened after a minimum of 6 weeks after the resolution of the COPD exacerbation
* Patients who have had a respiratory tract infection within 4 weeks prior to screening
* Patients who develop a respiratory tract infection between screening and prior to treatment will not be eligible, but will be permitted to be re-screened 4 weeks after the resolution of the respiratory tract infection
* Patients requiring long term oxygen therapy prescribed for \>12 hours per day
* Patients with any history of asthma
* Patients with an onset of respiratory symptoms, including a COPD diagnosis prior to age 40 years
* Patients with a blood eosinophil count \> 600/mm3 at screening
* Patients with allergic rhinitis who use a H1 antagonist or intra-nasal corticosteroids intermittently (treatment with a stable dose or regimen is permitted)
* Patients with concomitant pulmonary disease (e.g. lung fibrosis, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary hypertension)
* Patients with clinically significant bronchiectasis
* Patients with a diagnosis of α-1 anti-trypsin deficiency
* Patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, unless confirmed by imaging to be no longer active
* Patients with pulmonary lobectomy or lung volume reduction surgery or lung transplantation
* Patients participating in or planning to participate in the active phase of a supervised pulmonary rehabilitation program during the study. (Maintenance program is permitted.)
* Patients receiving any medications in the classes listed in the protocol
* Patients receiving any COPD related medications in the classes specified in the protocol must undergo the required washout period prior to screening and follow the adjustment to treatment program
* Use of other investigational drugs/devices (approved or unapproved) at the time of enrollment, or within 30 days or 5 half-lives of screening, whichever is longer
* Patients unable to use an electronic patient diary and EXACT pro diary
* Patients unable to use a dry powder inhaler device, Metered Dose Inhaler (MDI) or a pressurized MDI (rescue medication) or comply with the study regimen.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

* Male and female adults aged ≥40 years, who have signed an Informed Consent form prior to initiation of any study-related procedure
* Patients diagnosed with COPD at age 40 and over and with a current diagnosis of severe COPD and including:

  1. Smoking history of at least 10 pack years, both current and ex-smokers are eligible
  2. A documented history of at least 1 moderate or severe exacerbation in the previous 12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who have received systemic corticosteroids and/or antibiotics for a COPD exacerbation in the 6 weeks prior to screening or during the run-in period
* Patients who have had a respiratory tract infection within 6 weeks prior to screening
* Patients with concomitant pulmonary disease
* Patients with a history of asthma
* Patients with diabetes Type I or uncontrolled diabetes Type II
* Any patient with lung cancer or a history of lung cancer
* Patients with a history of certain cardiovascular comorbid conditions

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Informed Consent: A signed and dated written informed consent prior to study participation
* Type of subject: Outpatient
* Age: Subjects 40 years of age or older at Visit 1
* Gender: Male or female subjects. A female is eligible to enter and participate in the study if she is of: Non-child bearing potential (i.e. physiologically incapable of becoming pregnant, including any female who is post-menopausal or surgically sterile). Surgically sterile females are defined as those with a documented hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy or tubal ligation. Post-menopausal females are defined as being amenorrhoeic for greater than 1 year with an appropriate clinical profile, e.g. age appropriate, \> 45 years, in the absence of hormone replacement therapy OR Child bearing potential, has a negative pregnancy test at screening, and agrees to one of the following acceptable contraceptive methods used consistently and correctly (i.e. in accordance with the approved product label and the instructions of the physician for the duration of the study - screening to safety follow-up contact): Abstinence; Oral Contraceptive, either combined or progestogen alone; Injectable progestogen; Implants of levonorgestrel; Estrogenic vaginal ring; Percutaneous contraceptive patches; Intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (IUS); Male partner sterilization (vasectomy with documentation of azoospermia) prior to the female subject's entry into the study, and this male is the sole partner for that subject. For this definition, "documented" refers to the outcome of the investigator's/designee's medical examination of the subject or review of the subject's medical history for study eligibility, as obtained via a verbal interview with the subject or from the subject's medical records. Double barrier method: condom and an occlusive cap (diaphragm or cervical/vault caps) with a vaginal spermicidal agent (foam/gel/film/cream/suppository)
* COPD Diagnosis: An established clinical history of COPD in accordance with the definition by the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society
* Smoking History: Current or former cigarette smokers with a history of cigarette smoking of \>=10 pack-years at screening (visit 1) \[number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day / 20) x number of years smoked (e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years)\]. Previous smokers are defined as those who have stopped smoking for at least 6 months prior to Visit 1. Note: Pipe and/or cigar use cannot be used to calculate pack-year history
* Severity of COPD symptoms: A score of \>=10 on the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) at screening
* Severity of COPD Disease: A post-albuterol/salbutamol FEV1/ Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) ratio of \<0.70 at Screening
* Existing COPD maintenance treatment: Subject must be receiving daily maintenance treatment for their COPD for at least 3 months prior to Screening. Note: Subjects receiving only Pro re nata (PRN) COPD medications are not eligible
* History of Exacerbations: Subjects must demonstrate: a post-bronchodilator FEV1 \<50% predicted normal and a documented history of \>= 1 moderate or severe COPD exacerbation in the previous 12 months OR a post-bronchodilator 50% \<=FEV1 \< 80% predicted normal and a documented history of \>= 2 moderate exacerbations or a documented history of \>=1 severe COPD exacerbation (hospitalized) in the previous 12 months. Note: Percent predicted will be calculated using the European Respiratory Society Global Lung Function Initiative reference equations. Note: A documented history of a COPD exacerbation (e.g., medical record verification) is a medical record of worsening COPD symptoms that required systemic/oral corticosteroids and/or antibiotics (for a moderate exacerbation) or hospitalization (for a severe exacerbation). Prior use of antibiotics alone does not qualify as an exacerbation history unless the use was associated with treatment of worsening symptoms of COPD, such as increased dyspnea, sputum volume, or sputum purulence (color). Subject verbal reports are not acceptable
* Liver function tests: alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \<2x upper limit of normal (ULN); alkaline phosphatase \<=1.5xULN; bilirubin \<=1.5xULN (isolated bilirubin \>1.5 x ULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and direct bilirubin \<35%)
* French subjects: In France, a subject will be eligible for inclusion in this study only if either affiliated to or a beneficiary of a social security category

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy: Women who are pregnant or lactating or are planning on becoming pregnant during the study
* Asthma: Subjects with a current diagnosis of asthma. (Subjects with a prior history of asthma are eligible if they have a current diagnosis of COPD)
* Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency: Subjects with Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency as the underlying cause of COPD
* Other respiratory disorders: Subjects with active tuberculosis, lung cancer, significant bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis, lung fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial lung diseases or other active pulmonary diseases
* Lung resection: Subjects with lung volume reduction surgery within the 12 months prior to Screening
* Risk Factors for Pneumonia: immune suppression (e.g. human immunodeficiency virus \[HIV\], Lupus) or other risk factors for pneumonia (e.g. neurological disorders affecting control of the upper airway, such as Parkinson's Disease, Myasthenia Gravis). Patients at potentially high risk (e.g. very low BMI, severely malnourished, or very low FEV1) will only be included at the discretion of the Investigator
* Pneumonia and/or moderate or severe COPD exacerbation that has not resolved at least 14 days prior to Screening and at least 30 days following the last dose of oral/systemic corticosteroids (if applicable). In addition, any subject that experiences pneumonia and/or moderate or severe COPD exacerbation during the run-in period will be excluded
* Other Respiratory tract infections that have not resolved at least 7 days prior to screening
* Abnormal Chest x-ray(CXR): Chest x-ray (posteroanterior and lateral) reveals evidence of pneumonia or a clinically significant abnormality not believed to be due to the presence of COPD, or another condition that would hinder the ability to detect an infiltrate on CXR (e.g. significant cardiomegaly, pleural effusion or scarring). All subjects will have a chest x-ray at Screening Visit 1 (or historical radiograph or computerised tomography (CT) scan obtained within 3 months prior to screening) that will be over-read by a central vendor. Note: Subjects who have experienced pneumonia and/or moderate or severe COPD exacerbation within 3 months of screening must provide a post pneumonia/exacerbation chest x-ray to be over-read by the central vendor or have a chest x-ray conducted at screening. For sites in Germany: If a chest x-ray (or CT scan) within 3 months prior to Screening (Visit 1) is not available, approval to conduct a diagnostic chest x-ray will need to be obtained from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz \[BfS\])
* Other diseases/abnormalities: Subjects with historical or current evidence of clinically significant cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, renal, hepatic, immunological, gastrointestinal, urogenital, nervous system, musculoskeletal, skin, sensory, endocrine (including uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease) or hematological abnormalities that are uncontrolled. Significant is defined as any disease that, in the opinion of the Investigator, would put the safety of the subject at risk through participation, or which would affect the efficacy or safety analysis if the disease/condition exacerbated during the study
* Unstable liver disease as defined by the presence of ascites, encephalopathy, coagulopathy, hypoalbuminaemia, esophageal or gastric varices or persistent jaundice, cirrhosis, known biliary abnormalities (with the exception of Gilbert's syndrome or asymptomatic gallstones).
* Note: Chronic stable hepatitis B and C are acceptable if the subject otherwise meets entry criteria
* Unstable or life threatening cardiac disease: subjects with any of the following at Screening (Visit 1) would be excluded: Myocardial infarction or unstable angina in the last 6 months; Unstable or life threatening cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention in the last 3 months; New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class IV Heart failure
* Abnormal and clinically significant 12-Lead Electrocardiogram (ECG) finding: Investigators will be provided with ECG reviews conducted by a centralized independent cardiologist to assist in evaluation of subject eligibility. The Principal Investigator will determine the clinical significance of each abnormal ECG finding in relation to the subject's medical history and exclude subjects who would be at undue risk by participating in the trial. An abnormal and clinically significant finding that would preclude a subject from entering the trial is defined as a 12-lead tracing that is interpreted as, but not limited to, any of the following: atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular rate \>120 beats per minute); sustained or nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (VT); Second degree heart block Mobitz type II and third degree heart block (unless pacemaker or defibrillator had been inserted); QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTcF) \>=500 milliseconds (msec) in patients with QRS \<120 msec and QTcF \>=530 msec in patients with QRS \>=120 msec
* Contraindications: A history of allergy or hypersensitivity to any corticosteroid, anticholinergic/muscarinic receptor antagonist, beta2-agonist, lactose/milk protein or magnesium stearate or a medical condition such as narrow-angle glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy or bladder neck obstruction that, in the opinion of the Investigator contraindicates study participation
* Cancer: Subjects with carcinoma that has not been in complete remission for at least 5 years. Subjects who have had carcinoma in situ of the cervix, squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin would not be excluded based on the 5 year waiting period if the subject has been considered cured by treatment
* Oxygen therapy: Use of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) described as resting oxygen therapy \>3 Liter/minute (L/min) (Oxygen use =\<3L/min flow is not exclusionary)
* Medication prior to spirometry: Subjects who are medically unable to withhold their albuterol/salbutamol for the 4-hour period required prior to spirometry testing at each study visit
* Pulmonary rehabilitation: Subjects who have participated in the acute phase of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program within 4 weeks prior to Screening or subjects who plan to enter the acute phase of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program during the study. Subjects who are in the maintenance phase of a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program are not excluded
* Drug/alcohol abuse: Subjects with a known or suspected history of alcohol or drug abuse within the last 2 years
* Non-compliance: Subjects at risk of non-compliance, or unable to comply with the study procedures. Any infirmity, disability, or geographic location that would limit compliance for scheduled visits
* Questionable validity of consent: Subjects with a history of psychiatric disease, intellectual deficiency, poor motivation or other conditions that will limit the validity of informed consent to participate in the study
* Affiliation with investigator site: Study investigators, sub-investigators, study coordinators, employees of a participating investigator or study site, or immediate family members of the aforementioned that is involved with this study
* Inability to read: In the opinion of the Investigator, any subject who is unable to read and/or would not be able to complete study related materials
* Medication prior to screening: Use of the following medications within the following time intervals prior to Screening (Visit 1) or during the study: Long term antibiotic therapy Subjects receiving antibiotics for long term therapy are not eligible for the study (Antibiotics are allowed for the short term treatment of an exacerbation or for short term treatment of other acute infections during the study); Systemic, Oral, parenteral corticosteroids 30 days (Except during the study oral/systemic corticosteroids may be used to treat COPD exacerbations/pneumonia) Intra-articular injections are allowed; Any other investigational drug (30 days or 5 half lives whichever is longer)
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Type of subject: Outpatient
* Informed consent: Subjects must give their signed and dated written informed consent to participate.
* Gender: Male or female subjects.
* Age: greater then or equal to 40 years of age at Screening (Visit 1)
* COPD diagnosis: Subjects with a clinical history of COPD in accordance with the following definition by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) /European Respiratory Society(ERS).
* Subjects with a current or prior history ofgreater then or equal to 10 pack-years of cigarette smoking at Screening (Visit 1).
* Subjects with a measured post-albuterol/salbutamol FEV1 less then 70% of predicted at Screening (Visit 1).
* Subjects with a measured post-albuterol/salbutamol FEV1/FVC ratio of less then or equal to 0.70 at Screening (Visit 1).
* Exacerbation History: Subjects who have been hospitalised or have been treated with oral corticosteroids or antibiotics for their COPD within the last 3 years prior to Screening (V1).
* Baseline aPWV: subjects with a measured aPWV greater then 12.0 m/s at Screening (Visit 1).

Exclusion Criteria:

* Body Mass Index of less then or equal to 35

Answer: A