Please select the eligibility criteria that correspond to the clinical trial below.
Title: A 26-week Treatment Randomized, Double-blind, Double Dummy, Parallel-group Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of QVA149 (Indacaterol / Glycopyrronium Bromide) Compared to Fluticasone/Salmeterol in Patients With Moderate to Severe COPD
Brief Summary: To demonstrate the non-inferiority of QVA149 110/50 µg o.d. to fluticasone/salmeterol 500/50 µg b.i.d. in terms of trough Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) (mean of 23 hours 15 min and 23 hours 45 min post QVA149 dose) following 26 weeks of treatment in patients with moderate to severe COPD


Options:
A: 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 if of child bearing potential, has a negative pregnancy test at screening, and agrees to one of the acceptable contraceptive methods mentioned in the protocol used consistently and correctly:
* Diagnosis: An established clinical history of COPD in accordance with the definition by the American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society as follows: COPD 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 use 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 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (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 electrocardiogram (ECG): An abnormal and significant 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, Olodaterol and Indacaterol - 10days, 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 ex-clusionary.
* 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.
B: Inclusion Criteria:

1. All patients must sign an informed consent prior to participation in the trial, which includes medication washout and restrictions.
2. All patients must have a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to the GOLD criteria and must meet the following spirometric criteria:

   a post-bronchodilator FEV1 \< 80% of predicted normal, a post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC \< 70% at Visit 1, and a morning FEV1 \<= 65% predicted at Visit 2.
3. Male or female patients 40 years of age or older.
4. Patients must be current or ex-smokers with a smoking history of more than 10 pack-years.
5. Patients must be able to perform technically acceptable pulmonary function tests.
6. Patients must be able to inhale medication in a competent manner from the HandiHaler® device, the Blue Inhaler device, and from a metered dose inhaler (MDI).

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with significant diseases other than COPD.
2. Patients with a recent history (i.e., six months or less) of myocardial infarction.
3. Patients who have been hospitalized for heart failure (NYHA class III or IV) within the past year.
4. Any unstable or life threatening cardiac arrhythmia or cardiac arrhythmia requiring intervention or a change in drug therapy within the past year.
5. Patients with a history of cancer within the last five years.
6. Patients with known narrow-angle glaucoma.
7. Patients with a history of asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopy or who have a total blood eosinophil count \>= 600/mm3.
8. Patients with a history of life threatening pulmonary obstruction, or a history of cystic fibrosis or clinically evident bronchiectasis.
9. Patients with known active tuberculosis.
10. Patients with significant alcohol or drug abuse within the past two years.
11. Patients who have undergone thoracotomy with pulmonary resection.
12. Patients who have completed a pulmonary rehabilitation program in the six weeks prior to the Screening Visit (Visit 1) or patients who are currently in a pulmonary rehabilitation program that will not be maintained throughout the study.
13. Patients who regularly use daytime oxygen therapy for more than one hour per day and in the investigator's opinion will be unable to abstain from the use of oxygen therapy.
14. Patients who are being treated with antihistamines (H1 receptor antagonists) for asthma or excluded allergic conditions.
15. Patients who have taken an investigational drug within one month or six half lives prior to Visit 1.
16. Patients who have been treated with oral beta-adrenergics within one month prior to Visit 1.
17. Patients who have been treated with antileukotrienes or leukotriene receptor antagonists for any disease within one month prior to Visit 1.
18. Patients who have been treated with oral steroids within six weeks prior to Visit 1.
19. Patients who have been treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants within one month prior to Visit 1.
20. Patients who have been treated with cromolyn sodium or nedocromil sodium within one month prior to Visit 1.
21. Patients who have been treated with inhaled steroids within two months prior to Visit 1, including combinations of inhaled steroids and long-acting beta-adrenergics.
22. Patients with known hypersensitivity to anticholinergic drugs, beta adrenergics, lactose or any other components of the inhalation capsule delivery system or any other components of the aerosol delivery systems.
23. Pregnant or nursing women or women of childbearing potential not using a medically approved means of contraception for the previous three months.
24. Patients with any respiratory infections in the six weeks prior to the Screening Visit (Visit 1) or during the run-in period.
25. Patients who are currently participating in another study.
26. Patients requiring more than eight puffs of salbutamol on three or more consecutive days during the run-in period.
C: Inclusion Criteria:

* Smoking history of at least 10 pack years
* Diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (moderate-to-severe as classified by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease \[GOLD\] Guidelines, 2009)
* Post-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) \>40% and \< 80% of the predicted normal value and post-bronchodilator FEV1/Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) \<70%

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who have had a COPD exacerbation that required treatment with antibiotics, systemic steroids (oral or intravenous) or hospitalization in the last year.
* Patients requiring long term oxygen therapy on a daily basis for chronic hypoxemia.
* Patients who have had a respiratory tract infection within 4 weeks prior to Visit 1.
* Patients with concomitant pulmonary disease
* Patients with a history of asthma
* Any patient with lung cancer or a history of lung cancer (within last 5 years)
* Patients with a history of certain cardiovascular co-morbid conditions
D: Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients with moderate to severe stable COPD (Stage II or Stage III) according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) Guideline.

Current or ex-smokers who have a smoking history of at least 10 pack years. Patients with a post-bronchodilator Forced Expiratory Volume in one second (FEV1) ≥ 30% and \< 80% of the predicted normal, and post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC \< 0.7.

Modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) grade of at least 2 at Visit 2.

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 Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) laboratory test.

Patents with narrow-angle glaucoma, symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), bladder-neck obstruction, moderate to severe renal impairment or urinary retention. BPH patients who are stable on treatment can be considered.

Patients with a history of long QT syndrome or whose QTc measured at run-in (Visit 2) (Fridericia method) is prolonged (\>450 ms for males and females) as confirmed by the central Electrocardiogram (ECG) assessor.

Patients with Type I or uncontrolled Type II diabetes. Patients who have not achieved spirometry result at Visit 2 in accordance with American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (ATS/ERS) criteria for acceptability and repeatability.

Patients with, a) any history of asthma or, b) onset of respiratory symptoms prior to age 40 years.

Patients with concomitant pulmonary disease (e.g. lung fibrosis, primary bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis, interstitial lung disorder, pulmonary hypertension).

Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply

Answer: D