Extended-Release Naltrexone vs. Buprenorphine for Opioid Treatment

NCT ID: NCT02032433

Last Updated: 2020-08-13

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

570 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2014-01-29

Study Completion Date

2017-01-31

Brief Summary

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CTN-0051 assesses the comparative effectiveness of extended release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX, Vivitrol®), an opioid antagonist recently approved and indicated for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence, versus buprenorphine-naloxone (BUP-NX, Suboxone®), a high affinity partial agonist indicated for maintenance treatment of opioid dependence, as pharmacotherapeutic aids to recovery.

The study is conducted in 8 NIDA Clinical Trials Network affiliated community based treatment programs. Up to 600 eligible participants will be randomized to treatment with XR-NTX or BUP-NX for 24 weeks (sufficient to include 350 participants who are randomized more than 72 hours after their last opioid).

The primary goal of the study is to estimate the difference, if one exists, between XR-NTX and BUP-NX in the distribution of the time to relapse (i.e.., loss of persistent abstinence) during the 6-month trial. Secondary objectives are to: (1) compare outcome on XR-NTX versus BUP-NX across a range of clinical safety and secondary efficacy domains, and (2) explore demographic and, clinical, and genetic predictors of successful treatment and moderators of differential effectiveness (i.e., what variables may help clinicians choose which of these treatments is best for a given patient).), and (3) collect a limited dataset to permit analyses of economic costs and benefits of the two treatments.

Detailed Description

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For opioid-dependent patients in the U.S. and most of the rest of the world, detoxification or detoxification followed by short term residential treatment, with the goal of achieving long-term abstinence from opioid misuse is a mainstay of treatment. Nonetheless, the majority of patients treated in this way will relapse to opioid misuse, leading to a costly and ineffectual cycle of readmission for repeated detoxifications.

The overarching goal of CTN-0051 is to foster adoption of new relapse-prevention pharmacotherapies in community-based treatment programs (CTPs) where these could have a substantial public health impact. To this end CTN-0051 assesses the comparative effectiveness of extended release injectable naltrexone (XR-NTX, Vivitrol®), an opioid antagonist recently approved and indicated for the prevention of relapse to opioid dependence, versus buprenorphine-naloxone (BUP-NX, Suboxone®), a high affinity partial agonist indicated for maintenance treatment of opioid dependence, as pharmacotherapeutic aids to recovery.

The study is conducted in 8 CTN-affiliated CTPs that provide or partner with detoxification services (inpatient/residential) which have the capacity to maintain participants opioid-free for approximately 3-7 days, have the capacity to provide medication-assisted therapy, and can provide a minimum of one group or individual counseling session per week during the 24-week treatment period. Up to 600 eligible participants will be randomized to treatment with XR-NTX or BUP-NX for 24 weeks (sufficient to include 350 participants who are randomized more than 72 hours after their last opioid). To maximize generalizability, the point of randomization is flexible, from shortly after program admission until just prior to program discharge. A data analysis modification (assessment of whether the early vs. late randomizers have a differential treatment effect and if so, time to relapse will be estimated for early and late randomizers separately) will occur if differential treatment initiation is a problem for cases randomized prior to completing detoxification (i.e., significantly fewer early randomizers are able to complete detoxification and XR-NTX induction).

The primary goal of the study is to estimate the difference, if one exists, between XR-NTX and BUP-NX in the distribution of the time to relapse (i.e., loss of persistent abstinence) during the 6-month trial. The primary outcome measure will be the time to the event, with the event called relapse. Secondary objectives are to: (1) compare outcome on XR-NTX versus BUP-NX across a range of clinical safety and secondary efficacy domains, and (2) explore demographic and, clinical, and genetic predictors of successful treatment and moderators of differential effectiveness (i.e., what variables may help clinicians choose which of these treatments is best for a given patient), and (3) collect a limited dataset to permit analyses of economic costs and benefits of the two treatments.

Toward the end of the 24-week treatment period, participants are referred for follow-up care in the community (which could include pharmacotherapy if desired and available), and follow-up outcomes are assessed at week 28 and week 36 after randomization. For participants receiving BUP-NX, who do not wish to continue, or for whom community resources are not available, the study provides a two-week BUP-NX taper.

In an ancillary genetics study we plan to study functional variants in three genes (OPRM1, OPRK1 and PDYN), known to affect the dynamic response to opioid receptor ligands. These variants will be evaluated in CTN-0051 for their contribution to treatment retention, abstinence, and depression. Blood collection for DNA extraction will occur at the same time that blood is collected for medical safety and liver function evaluation, precluding the need for an additional needle-stick. Coded blood samples for the genetics studies will be sent to the NIDA Center for Genetics Repository.

Conditions

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Opioid Use Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Extended-Release Naltrexone

Extended-Release Naltrexone (Vivitrol)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Extended-Release Naltrexone

Intervention Type DRUG

Extended-Release Naltrexone (Vivitrol®)

Buprenorphine-Naloxone

Buprenorphine-Naloxone (Suboxone)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Buprenorphine-Naloxone

Intervention Type DRUG

Buprenorphine-Naloxone (Suboxone®)

Interventions

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Extended-Release Naltrexone

Extended-Release Naltrexone (Vivitrol®)

Intervention Type DRUG

Buprenorphine-Naloxone

Buprenorphine-Naloxone (Suboxone®)

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Vivitrol® Suboxone®

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Male or female
* 18 years of age and older
* Meet DSM-5 criteria for opioid-use disorder (heroin and/or prescription opioids)
* Have used opioids other than as specifically prescribed within thirty days prior to consent
* Seeking treatment for opioid dependence and willing to accept "agonist-based" or "antagonist-based" therapy
* In good-enough general health, as determined by the study physician on the basis of medical history, review of systems, physical exam and laboratory assessments, to permit treatment with XR-NTX or BUP-NX
* Able to provide written informed consent
* Able to speak English sufficiently to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent to participate in the study
* If female of childbearing potential, be willing to practice an effective method of birth control for the duration of participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria

* Serious medical, psychiatric or substance use disorder that, in the opinion of the study physician, would make study participation hazardous to the participant, or compromise study findings or would prevent the participant from completing the study. Examples include:

1. Disabling or terminal medical illness (e.g., uncompensated heart failure, cirrhosis or end-stage liver disease) as assessed by medical history, review of systems, physical exam and/or laboratory assessments;
2. Severe, untreated or inadequately treated mental disorder (e.g., active psychosis, uncontrolled manic-depressive illness) as assessed by history and/or clinical interview;
3. Current severe alcohol, benzodiazepine, or other depressant or sedative hypnotic use likely to require a complicated medical detoxification (routine alcohol and sedative detoxifications may be included)
* LFTs (ALT, AST) greater than 5 times upper limit of normal
* Suicidal or homicidal ideation that requires immediate attention
* Known allergy or sensitivity to buprenorphine, naloxone, naltrexone, polylactide-co-glycolide, carboxymethylcellulose, or other components of the Vivitrol® diluent
* Maintenance on methadone at doses of 30mg or greater at the time of signing consent
* Presence of pain of sufficient severity as to require ongoing pain management with opioids
* Pending legal action or other reasons that might prevent an individual from completing the study
* If female, currently pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning on conception
* Body habitus that, in the judgment of the study physician, precludes safe intramuscular injection of XR-NTX (e.g., BMI\>40, excess fat tissue over the buttocks, emaciation)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

The Emmes Company, LLC

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

NYU Langone Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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John Rotrosen, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

NYU Langone Health

Locations

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Tarzana Treatment Centers

Tarzana, California, United States

Site Status

Gateway Community Services, Inc.

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Site Status

Avery Road Treatment Center

Rockville, Maryland, United States

Site Status

Stanley Street Treatment and Resources

Fall River, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

Turquoise Lodge Hospital

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Site Status

Bellevue Hospital Center

New York, New York, United States

Site Status

Maryhaven

Columbus, Ohio, United States

Site Status

Evergreen Treatment Services

Seattle, Washington, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Kornor H, Lobmaier PPK, Kunoe N. Sustained-release naltrexone for opioid dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2025 May 9;5(5):CD006140. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006140.pub3.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40342086 (View on PubMed)

Brandt L, Odom GJ, Hu MC, Castro C, Balise RR; CTN-0094 Team. Empirically contrasting urine drug screening-based opioid use disorder treatment outcome definitions. Addiction. 2024 Jul;119(7):1289-1300. doi: 10.1111/add.16494. Epub 2024 Apr 14.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38616571 (View on PubMed)

Foot C, Korthuis PT, Tsui JI, Luo SX, Chan B, Cook RR. Associations between stimulant use and return to illicit opioid use following initiation onto medication for opioid use disorder. Addiction. 2024 Jan;119(1):149-157. doi: 10.1111/add.16334. Epub 2023 Sep 15.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37712113 (View on PubMed)

Nielsen S, Tse WC, Larance B. Opioid agonist treatment for people who are dependent on pharmaceutical opioids. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2022 Sep 5;9(9):CD011117. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011117.pub3.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36063082 (View on PubMed)

Tsui JI, Campbell ANC, Pavlicova M, Choo TH, Lee JD, Cook RR, Shulman M, Nunes EV, Rotrosen J. Methamphetamine/amphetamine use over time among persons with opioid use disorders treated with buprenorphine/naloxone versus extended-release naltrexone. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Jul 1;236:109469. doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109469. Epub 2022 Apr 21.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35605529 (View on PubMed)

Jelovac A, McLoughlin DM. Twelve-Month Outcomes for Remitters Following Electroconvulsive Therapy for Depression. J Clin Psychiatry. 2022 Apr 18;83(3):21lr14371. doi: 10.4088/JCP.21lr14371. No abstract available.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35452195 (View on PubMed)

Na PJ, Scodes J, Fishman M, Rotrosen J, Nunes EV. Co-occurring Depression and Suicidal Ideation in Opioid Use Disorder: Prevalence and Response During Treatment With Buprenorphine-Naloxone and Injection Naltrexone. J Clin Psychiatry. 2022 Apr 18;83(3):21m14140. doi: 10.4088/JCP.21m14140.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35452194 (View on PubMed)

Rudolph KE, Shulman M, Fishman M, Diaz I, Rotrosen J, Nunes EV. Association between dynamic dose increases of buprenorphine for treatment of opioid use disorder and risk of relapse. Addiction. 2022 Mar;117(3):637-645. doi: 10.1111/add.15654. Epub 2021 Oct 1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34338389 (View on PubMed)

Nunes EV Jr, Scodes JM, Pavlicova M, Lee JD, Novo P, Campbell ANC, Rotrosen J. Sublingual Buprenorphine-Naloxone Compared With Injection Naltrexone for Opioid Use Disorder: Potential Utility of Patient Characteristics in Guiding Choice of Treatment. Am J Psychiatry. 2021 Jul;178(7):660-671. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20060816. Epub 2021 Jun 25.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34170188 (View on PubMed)

Fishman M, Wenzel K, Scodes J, Pavlicova M, Campbell ANC, Rotrosen J, Nunes E. Examination of Correlates of OUD Outcomes in Young Adults: Secondary Analysis From the XBOT Trial. Am J Addict. 2021 Sep;30(5):433-444. doi: 10.1111/ajad.13176. Epub 2021 Jun 1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 34075644 (View on PubMed)

Shulman M, Choo TH, Scodes J, Pavlicova M, Wai J, Haenlein P, Tofighi B, Campbell ANC, Lee JD, Rotrosen J, Nunes EV. Association between methadone or buprenorphine use during medically supervised opioid withdrawal and extended-release injectable naltrexone induction failure. J Subst Abuse Treat. 2021 May;124:108292. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108292. Epub 2021 Jan 16.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 33771287 (View on PubMed)

Lee JD, Nunes EV Jr, Novo P, Bachrach K, Bailey GL, Bhatt S, Farkas S, Fishman M, Gauthier P, Hodgkins CC, King J, Lindblad R, Liu D, Matthews AG, May J, Peavy KM, Ross S, Salazar D, Schkolnik P, Shmueli-Blumberg D, Stablein D, Subramaniam G, Rotrosen J. Comparative effectiveness of extended-release naltrexone versus buprenorphine-naloxone for opioid relapse prevention (X:BOT): a multicentre, open-label, randomised controlled trial. Lancet. 2018 Jan 27;391(10118):309-318. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32812-X. Epub 2017 Nov 14.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 29150198 (View on PubMed)

Lee JD, Nunes EV, Mpa PN, Bailey GL, Brigham GS, Cohen AJ, Fishman M, Ling W, Lindblad R, Shmueli-Blumberg D, Stablein D, May J, Salazar D, Liu D, Rotrosen J. NIDA Clinical Trials Network CTN-0051, Extended-Release Naltrexone vs. Buprenorphine for Opioid Treatment (X:BOT): Study design and rationale. Contemp Clin Trials. 2016 Sep;50:253-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2016.08.004. Epub 2016 Aug 10.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 27521809 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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UG1DA013035

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

12-03133

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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