Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A 12-week Treatment, Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Parallel Group Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Switching From Salmeterol/Fluticasone to QVA149 (Indacaterol Maleate/Glycopyrronium Bromide) in Symptomatic COPD Patients
Brief Summary: This study will investigate whether switching symptomatic COPD patients from a fixed-dose combination of salmeterol/fluticasone 50/500 µg b.i.d. to a fixed dose combination of QVA149 110/50 µg o.d. leads to improved lung function and airflow. It will also assess the effect on symptom burden, breathlessness, and use of rescue medication after this switch.


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:

* Type of subject: Outpatient
* Informed Consent: A signed and dated written informed consent prior to study participation
* 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); or Child bearing potential, has a negative pregnancy test at screening, and agrees to one of the acceptable contraceptive methods listed in the protocol used consistently and correctly
* Diagnosis: established clinical history of COPD in accordance with the definition by the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society as follows: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a preventable and treatable disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. The airflow limitation is usually progressive and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases, primarily caused by cigarette smoking. Although COPD affects the lungs, it also produces significant systemic consequences.
* Smoking history: Current or former cigarette smokers with a history of cigarette smoking of \>=10 pack-years \[number of pack years = (number of cigarettes per day/20) x number of years smoked (e.g., 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years, or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years)\]. Previous smokers are defined as those who have stopped smoking for at least 6 months prior to Visit 1. Pipe and/or cigar smoking cannot be used to calculate pack year history.
* Severity of disease: A pre and post-salbutamol FEV1/FVC ratio of \<0.70 and a post-salbutamol FEV1 of \>=30% and \<=70% of predicted normal values calculated using NHANES III reference equations at Visit 1.
* Dyspnea: A score of \>=2 on the Modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale (mMRC) at Visit 1.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnancy: Women who are pregnant or lactating or are planning on becoming pregnant during the study
* Asthma: A current diagnosis of asthma
* Other Respiratory Disorders: Known alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, active lung infections (such as tuberculosis), and lung cancer are absolute exclusionary conditions. A subject, who, in the opinion of the investigator, has any other significant respiratory condition in addition to COPD should be excluded. Examples may include clinically significant bronchiectasis, pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, or interstitial lung disease. Inactive tuberculosis in more than one lobe is exclusionary. Allergic rhinitis is not exclusionary.
* Other Diseases/Abnormalities: Subjects with historical or current evidence of clinically significant cardiovascular, neurological, psychiatric, renal, hepatic, immunological, endocrine (including uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease) or hematological abnormalities that are uncontrolled and/or a previous history of cancer in remission for \<5 years prior to Visit 1 (localized carcinoma of the skin that has been resected for cure is not exclusionary). 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.
* Contraindications: A history of allergy or hypersensitivity to any anticholinergic/muscarinic receptor antagonist, beta2-agonist, corticosteroid, 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 study physician contraindicates study participation or use of an inhaled anticholinergic.
* Hospitalization: Hospitalization for pneumonia within 12 weeks prior to Visit 1
* History of COPD Exacerbation: A documented history of at least one COPD exacerbation in the 12 months prior to Visit 1 that required either oral corticosteroids, antibiotics, and/or hospitalization. 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.
* Lung Resection: Subjects with lung volume reduction surgery within the 12 months prior to Screening (Visit 1)
* 12-Lead ECG: An abnormal and significant electrocardiogram (ECG) finding from the 12-lead ECG conducted at Visit 1. Investigators will be provided with ECG reviews conducted by a centralized independent cardiologist to assist in evaluation of subject eligibility.
* Medication Prior to Spirometry: Unable to withhold salbutamol for the 4 hour period required prior to spirometry testing at each study visit.
* Medications Prior to Screening: Use of the following medications according to the following defined time intervals prior to Visit 1: Depot corticosteroids - 12 weeks, Systemic, oral or parenteral corticosteroids - 6 weeks, Antibiotics (for lower respiratory tract infection) - 6 weeks, Cytochrome P450 3A4 strong inhibitors - 6 weeks, Herbal medications potentially containing oral or systemic steroids - 6 weeks, Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) - 30 days, Long-acting beta2-agonist (LABA)/ICS combination products - 30 days, Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitors (e.g., roflumilast) - 14 days, Inhaled long-acting anticholinergics - 7 days, Theophyllines - 48 hours, Oral leukotriene inhibitors (zafirlukast, montelukast, zileuton) - 48 hours, Oral beta2-agonists Long-acting-48 hours/Short-acting - 12 hours, Inhaled long acting beta2-agonists (LABA, e.g., salmeterol, formoterol, indacaterol) - 48 hours, Inhaled sodium cromoglycate or nedocromil sodium - 24 hours, Inhaled short acting beta2-agonists - 4 hours, Inhaled short-acting anticholinergics - 4 hours, Inhaled short-acting anticholinergic/short-acting beta2-agonist combination products - 4 hours, Any other investigational medication - 30 days or within 5 drug half-lives (whichever is longer)
* Oxygen: Use of long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) described as oxygen therapy prescribed for greater than 12 hours a day. As-needed oxygen use (i.e., \<=12 hours per day) is not exclusionary.
* Nebulized Therapy: Regular use (prescribed for use every day, not for as-needed use) of short-acting bronchodilators (e.g., salbutamol) via nebulized therapy.
* Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: Participation in the acute phase of a pulmonary rehabilitation program within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1. Subjects who are in the maintenance phase of a pulmonary rehabilitation program are not excluded.
* Drug or Alcohol Abuse: A known or suspected history of alcohol or drug abuse within 2 years prior to Visit 1.
* Affiliation with Investigator Site: A subject will not be eligible for this study if he/she is an immediate family member of the participating investigator, sub-investigator, study coordinator, or employee of the participating investigator
* Inability to read: A subject will not be eligible for the study if in the opinion of the investigator the subject cannot read.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Written informed consent must be obtained before any assessment is performed.
* Male and female ≥ 40 years
* Current or ex-smokers who have a smoking history of at least 10 pack years (Ten pack years are defined as 20 cigarettes per day for 10 years or 10 cigarettes per day for 20 years). An ex-smoker is defined as a patient who has not smoked for ≥ 6 months at visit 1
* Confirmed diagnosis of COPD and post-bronchodilator FEV1 ≥ 30% and \< 80% of the predicted normal value and post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC \< 0.70 at visit 1
* Treated with salmeterol/fluticasone 50/500 µg b.i.d. for at least 3 months prior to visit 1
* Documented CAT score of ≥ 10 at Visit 1 and 2

Exclusion Criteria:

* Treatment with any LAMA in the 2 weeks prior to visit 1
* Presence of any contraindication, warning, precaution, hypersensitivity in the approved prescribing information for salmeterol/fluticasone
* Prior or current diagnosis of asthma
* More than one COPD exacerbation requiring treatment with antibiotics and/or systemic corticosteroids and/or hospitalization in the year prior to Visit 1
* Patients who developed a COPD exacerbation of any severity within the 6 weeks before the screening (Visit 1) or between screening (Visit 1) and start of treatment (Visit 2) 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
* Respiratory tract infection within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1
* Respiratory tract infection between Visit 1 and 2. Patients can be re-screened 4 weeks after resolution of the infection
* Requiring oxygen therapy prescribed for \>12 hours per day
* Onset of respiratory symptoms, including a COPD diagnosis prior to age 40 years
D: Inclusion Criteria

* Non-child bearing potential (ie, physiologically incapable of becoming pregnant, including any female who is 2 years post-menopausal); or Child bearing potential, has a negative serum pregnancy test at Visit 1, and agrees to acceptable contraceptive methods used consistently and correctly for the duration of the study.
* Subjects with an established clinical history of COPD as defined by the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS),
* Current or former smokers with a history of at least 10 pack-years of cigarette smoking.
* Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/Forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio must be \<0.70 and FEV1 must be \<65% predicted normal value calculated using NHANES III reference equations (or reference norms applicable to other regions).
* Subjects with history of exacerbations.

Please refer to the study protocol for the complete inclusion criteria list.

Exclusion Criteria

* Significant diseases or conditions other than COPD, which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may put the subject at risk because of participation in the study or may influence either the results of the study or the subject's ability to participate in the study.
* Women who are pregnant or lactating, or are planning to become pregnant during the course of the study, or women of childbearing potential who are not using an acceptable method of contraception.
* Subjects, who in the opinion of the Investigator, have a current diagnosis of asthma.
* Subjects who have been hospitalized due to poorly controlled COPD within 3 months prior to Visit 1 (Screening)
* Subjects who have poorly controlled COPD, defined as acute worsening of COPD that requires treatment with oral corticosteroids or antibiotics within 6 weeks prior to Visit 1 (Screening)
* Immune suppression or severe neurological disorders affecting control of the upper airway or other risk factors that in the opinion of the Investigator would put the subject at substantial risk of pneumonia.
* Subjects with a diagnosis of narrow angle glaucoma, who, in the opinion of the Investigator, have not been adequately treated.
* Subjects who have a history of hypersensitivity to β2-agonists, budesonide or any other corticosteroid components, glycopyrronium or other muscarinic anticholinergics, or any other component of the IMPs.

Please refer to the study protocol for the complete inclusion criteria list.

Answer: C