The primary objective is a clinical superiority effectiveness contrast to standard of care. Reported following SPIRIT and CONSORT standards, the study will determine whether extended-release injectable depot Buprenorphine (XR-Bup) maintenance therapy for OUD over six months is clinically superior to standard-of-care, oral medication (sublingual Buprenorphine \[SL-Bup\] or oral methadone \[Met\]; together: Bup/Met)
EXPO is a pragmatic, multi-centre, open label, four-arm, parallel group, superiority RCT, with a qualitative (mixed-methods) evaluation. The objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of XR-BUP versus SOC SL-BUP or MET. The primary study endpoint is six months of study treatment. EXPO also contains a single-site evaluation of the effectiveness of XR-BUP with adjunctive PSI versus SOC with adjunctive PSI. Participants allocated to XR-BUP can request to receive longer-term treatment for the duration of the study. The study population is adults (≥18 years) enrolled in standard-of-care medication treatment for OUD. The study setting is specialist community addiction treatment programmes operated by the National Health Service in England and Scotland. There will be five participant treatment sites in South-East England (South London); North-East England (Newcastle); West Midlands, England (Solihull and Wolverhampton); North-West England (Manchester), and Tayside, Scotland (Dundee). Groups In all sites, participants will be randomly allocated to one of two groups: Group 1. Injectable medication for OUD for 24 weeks (XR-BUP; the experimental condition) Group 2. Oral medication for OUD for 24 weeks (SL-BUP or MET; the control condition). At the EXPO co-ordinating centre in South London, there will also be random allocation of participants to two additional groups, as follows: Group 3. Injectable medication for OUD with adjunctive PSI for 24 weeks (XR-BUP with PSI; the experimental condition) Group 4. Oral medication for OUD with adjunctive PSI for 24 weeks (SL-BUP or MET with PSI; the control condition). Study aims Across 24-weeks of study treatment, the primary aim of the EXPO study is to determine: 1. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of XR-BUP versus SL-BUP or MET; and 2. The effectiveness of XR-BUP with PSI versus SL-BUP or MET with PSI. Across 24-weeks of study treatment, secondary study aims will determine the: 1. Safety of XR-BUP; 2. Retention of XR-BUP; SL-BUP; MET; XR-BUP with PSI; and SL-BUP or MET with PSI; 3. Effectiveness of XR-BUP and SL-BUP and MET to reduce opioid craving; 4. Effectiveness of XR-BUP; SL-BUP; MET; XR-BUP with PSI; SL-BUP with PSI; and MET with PSI to reduce use of heroin, cocaine, and benzodiazepines; 5. Effectiveness of XR-BUP and SL-BUP and MET to improve social functioning and recovery. 6. Cost-effectiveness of XR-BUP versus SL-BUP and MET, based on the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. Study aims will be evaluated by following a pre-registered statistical and health economic analysis plan.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
342
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Birmingham, United Kingdom
NHS Tayside
Dundee, United Kingdom
South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
London, United Kingdom
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester, United Kingdom
Count of days abstinent From illicit/non-medical opioids during weeks 2 to 24 (range: 0-161 days)
Combining self-report information from Time-Line Follow-Back interview adapted from the Treatment Outcomes Profile and incorporating data from 12 scheduled urine drug screens.
Time frame: 24 weeks
Clinical superiority of XR-Bup plus PSI versus Bup/Met plus PSI
Number of days abstinent from cocaine Days 8 - 168 Number of days abstinent from Benzodiazepines Days 8 - 168 Longest time in days continuously abstinent from heroin Days 8 - 168 Longest time in days continuously abstinent from cocaine Days 8 - 168 Longest time in days continuously abstinent from Benzodiazepines Days 8 - 168
Time frame: 24 weeks
Cost-effectiveness of XR-BUP versus Bup and Met
Based on the incremental cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained.
Time frame: 24 weeks
Safety of XR-Bup
Number of safety events from study enrolment to 24 weeks
Time frame: 24 weeks
Time (days) enrolled in study treatment (retention) to week 24
Time frame: 24 weeks
OUD remission status (DSM5 OUD severity; SCID-5-RV)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Clinician rating of severity, complexity and recovery strengths: ADAPT
Time frame: 24 weeks
Clinician global impression of severity and improvement): CGI-S/I;
Time frame: 24 weeks
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Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
Count of days abstinent from cocaine and illicit/non-medical benzodiazepines
During weeks 2 to 24 (range: 0-161 days); combining self-report information from Time-Line Follow-Back interview adapted from the Treatment Outcomes Profile and incorporating data from 12 scheduled urine drug screens
Time frame: 24 weeks
Frequency of opioid (H) and cocaine (C) craving experience: CEQ-F(H) and CEQ-F(C)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Craving need and want strength for heroin and cocaine: VAS-N(H/C) and VAS-W(H/C)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Difficulties in Emotion Regulation (Short Form): DERS-SF
Time frame: 24 weeks
Depression symptoms: QIDS-SR
Time frame: 24 weeks
Work and social adjustment: WSAS
Time frame: 24 weeks
Subjective recovery and improvement: SURE
Time frame: 24 weeks
Patient rating of OUD severity and improvement:
Utilising PRO-S/I;
Time frame: 24 weeks
Patient rating of OUD severity and improvement:
Cognitive impairment: MoCA
Time frame: 24 weeks
Alcohol consumption: typical quantity and frequency: (ALC-QFM)
Time frame: 24 weeks
Longer Term Outcomes
Among participants enrolled in longer term XR-BUP treatment: heroin, cocaine and illicit/non-medical benzodiazepine use in past 90 days (TLFB; UDS)
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 4 years
Longer Term Outcomes
Among participants enrolled in longer term XR-BUP treatment: OUD and CUD remission status (SCID-5-RV)
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 4 years
Longer Term Outcomes
Among participants enrolled in longer term XR-BUP treatment: somatic symptoms (PHQ-15)
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 4 years
Longer Term Outcomes
Among participants enrolled in longer term XR-BUP treatment: emotion regulation (DERS-SF)
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 4 years
Longer Term Outcomes
Among participants enrolled in longer term XR-BUP treatment: depression and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-4)
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 4 years
Longer Term Outcomes
Among participants enrolled in longer term XR-BUP treatment: quality of life (OSTQOL)
Time frame: Through study completion, up to 4 years