Clinical trial NCT01908842: Efficacy of BNX Sublingual Tablets Versus BNX Sublingual Film for Treatment of Opioid-Dependent Adults
Official title: Induction, STabilization, Adherence, and Retention Trial (ISTART) - A Randomized, Non-inferiority, Multicenter Study to Assess Early Treatment Efficacy of OX219 Versus SUBOXONE Film and to Explore Switching Between Treatments
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE3
Conditions: Opioid Dependence, on Agonist Therapy
Keywords: Opioid
Dependence
agonist
buprenorphine
naloxone
BUP/NAL
Lead sponsor: Orexo AB
Sponsor class: INDUSTRY
Collaborators: name: Worldwide Clinical Trials
First posted: 2013-07-26
Enrollment: 759
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The purpose of this study was to assess retention in treatment after induction with buprenorphine/naloxone (BNX) sublingual tablets compared with generic buprenorphine and after stabilization with BNX sublingual tablets compared with BNX film. Secondary objectives included assessment of treatment effects on opioid withdrawal symptoms, opioid cravings, and safety.

Detailed description: This prospective, randomized, multicenter, parallel-group, non-inferiority study was conducted at 43 centers in the United States from August 2013 to April 2014. A non-inferior design was used because both products contain the same active components, and it was considered unethical to include a placebo arm. The study comprised an induction phase of 2 days and a stabilization phase of 20 days, with study visits scheduled on Days 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 15, and 22. Eligible opioid-dependent patients were randomly assigned within 14 days of screening to induction with either the BNX sublingual tablets or generic buprenorphine tablets for 2 days. On Day 3, patients initially allocated to buprenorphine were switched to BNX film, whereas those allocated to BNX sublingual tablets continued on the same treatment. On Day 15, patients receiving BNX film were switched to BNX sublingual tablets, and those on BNX sublingual tablets were switched to BNX film. At the final study visit on Day 22, patients were offered the option of continuing in an open-label follow-up study of BNX sublingual tablets.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male/female 18-65 years old
2. Able to read, comprehend \& sign the informed consent form
3. Meet opioid dependence criteria in DSM-IV-TR the past 12 months
4. Have a buprenorphine-negative UDS \&/or urine dipstick
5. Prepared to abstain from opioids other than the study drug \& from other addictive drugs
6. Negative urine pregnancy test
7. Females of childbearing potential who use a reliable method of contraception. Females of non-childbearing potential; surgically sterile or post-menopausal as defined by being at least 50 years of age \& having an absence of menses for at least 2 years
8. Clearance from the prescribing MD to be withdrawn from their prescribed opioids for subjects receiving opioids for pain
9. Lack of clinically significant abnormalities in health assessments performed at screening. Unclear cases should be approved by the medical monitor
10. At least mild withdrawal symptoms (COWS ≥9)

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant, lactating or planning to be pregnant during study
2. Unwilling/unable to comply with the requirements of the protocol (e.g., pending incarceration) are in a situation/condition that may interfere with participation in the study
3. Prescribed treatment with generic buprenorphine monotherapy within 90 days prior start of treatment
4. Daily dose of methadone over 30 mg during the past week or who received the last dose of methadone less than 30 hours prior to treatment
5. Participating in other clinical studies in which medications is delivered or who have used an investigational drug/device within the last 30 days
6. Allergy, sensitivity or intolerance to BUP, NAL or any related drug; history of drug hypersensitivity or intolerance which, in the opinion of the investigator, would compromise the safety of the subject/study
7. Staff, affiliated with, or family member of the staff directly involved with this study
8. Serious untreated Axis I DSM-IV-TR psychiatric comorbidity (actively suicidal or homicidal, have untreated schizophrenia)
9. Tongue/oral deformities that may affect the absorption of the drug products
10. Current/history of clinically significant medical disorder or condition which would jeopardize the safety or impact the validity of the results. Unclear cases should be discussed with \& approved by the medical monitor
11. HIV-seropositive with a CD4+ count \<200, active AIDS defining infection in the last 120 days
12. Have Class III/IV congestive heart failure, symptomatic myocardial ischemia or history of long QT syndrome (or an immediate family member with this condition)
13. Currently taking Class 1A antiarrhythmic medications (e.g., quinidine, procainamide, \& disopyramide) or Class III antiarrhythmic medications (e.g., sotalol, amiodarone, \& dofetilide)
14. Have uncontrolled hypertension, pulse oximetry ≤92%or clinically significant abnormality on 12-lead ECG, including a corrected QT (QTc) interval \>450 ms
15. Severe liver disease

Primary outcomes:
measure: Primary Endpoints of Retention in Treatment at Days 3 and 15
timeFrame: Day 3 and Day 15
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) Scores: Induction
timeFrame: Days 1 and 2
measure: COWS Total Scores: Stabilization/Maintenance
timeFrame: Days 3 through 22
measure: Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS) Scores: Induction
timeFrame: Days 1 and 2
measure: SOWS Total Scores: Stabilization/Maintenance
timeFrame: Days 3 through 22
measure: Visual Analog Scale (VAS) Cravings: Induction
timeFrame: Days 1 and 2
measure: VAS Craving Scores: Stabilization/Maintenance
timeFrame: Days 3 through 22
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Baldwin County
country: United States
state: Alabama
city: Houston County
country: United States
state: Alabama
city: Maricopa
country: United States
state: Arizona
city: Beverly Hills
country: United States
state: California
city: Los Angeles County
country: United States
state: California
city: Riverside County
country: United States
state: California
city: San Diego County
country: United States
state: California
city: Broward County
country: United States
state: Florida
city: Colombia County
country: United States
state: Florida
city: Duval County
country: United States
state: Florida
city: Greater Metro Orlando
country: United States
state: Florida
city: Lake County
country: United States
state: Florida
city: Miami-Dade County
country: United States
state: Florida
city: Osceola County
country: United States
state: Florida
city: Palm Beach County
country: United States
state: Florida
city: DeKalb County
country: United States
state: Georgia
city: Chicagoland
country: United States
state: Illinois
city: Johnson County
country: United States
state: Kansas
city: Kenton County
country: United States
state: Kentucky
city: Caddo Parish
country: United States
state: Louisiana
city: Baltimore County
country: United States
state: Maryland
city: Bristol County
country: United States
state: Massachusetts
city: St. Louis Metro Area
country: United States
state: Missouri
city: Camden County
country: United States
state: New Jersey
city: Warren County
country: United States
state: New Jersey
city: Warren County
country: United States
state: Ohio
city: Oklahoma County
country: United States
state: Oklahoma
city: Portland metropolitan area
country: United States
state: Oregon
city: Allegheny County
country: United States
state: Pennsylvania
city: Delaware County
country: United States
state: Pennsylvania
city: Philadelphia County
country: United States
state: Pennsylvania
city: Charleston County
country: United States
state: South Carolina
city: Dallas County
country: United States
state: Texas
city: Salt Lake County
country: United States
state: Utah
city: Charlottesville metropolitan area
country: United States
state: Virginia
city: Benton County
country: United States
state: Washington
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Virginia, PO Box 800623, Charlottesville, VA 22911
name: Erik Gunderson
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Gunderson EW, Hjelmstrom P, Sumner M; 006 Study Investigators. Effects of a higher-bioavailability buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual tablet versus buprenorphine/naloxone film for the treatment of opioid dependence during induction and stabilization: a multicenter, randomized trial. Clin Ther. 2015 Oct 1;37(10):2244-55. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2015.08.025. Epub 2015 Sep 26.