NCT01442311

Brief Summary

Drug users account for a disproportionately large burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, HCV treatment adherence rates in drug users may be suboptimal in patients who use drugs regularly during HCV treatment. Because HCV treatment is most effective when patients adhere to at least 80% of the prescribed treatment regimen, interventions to improve HCV treatment adherence need to be developed and evaluated. The investigators designed the HCV DOT trial to test the efficacy of two versions of modified directly observed HCV therapy provided on-site at a methadone clinic. The primary objective of this trial is to determine whether enhanced DOT with both pegylated interferon alfa-2a plus ribavirin (PEG/RBV-DOT) is more efficacious than standard DOT with weekly provider-administered pegylated interferon (PEG-DOT) and self-administered ribavirin for increasing adherence and improving HCV treatment outcomes. The investigators hypothesize that PEG/RBV-DOT is associated with increased adherence and rates of sustained viral response compared with PEG-DOT.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
80

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Oct 2007

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

October 1, 2007

Completed
4 years until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 27, 2011

Completed
1 day until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 28, 2011

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2013

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

March 1, 2013

Completed
Last Updated

June 26, 2015

Status Verified

June 1, 2015

Enrollment Period

5.4 years

First QC Date

September 27, 2011

Last Update Submit

June 25, 2015

Conditions

Keywords

Hepatitis C VirusChronic Hepatitis CMethadoneInjection Drug UserAdherenceDirectly Observed Treatment

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Adherence

    Adherence assessed by pill count, self-report, and medical records.

    24 -48 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • sustained viral response (SVR)

    24 weeks after treatment completion

  • end of treatment response (ETR)

    24 - 48 weeks

  • treatment completion

    24 - 48 weeks

Study Arms (2)

enhanced DOT (PEG/RBV-DOT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects randomized to the PEG/RBV-DOT arm receive weekly provider-administered pegylated interferon alfa-2a injections plus modified directly observed ribavirin therapy. We describe this as modified because ribavirin ingestion is observed at the methadone window three to six days per week based on the participants' methadone pick-up schedule, and only one of two daily doses is observed.

Other: enhanced DOT (both pegylated interferon alfa-2a and ribavirin)

standard DOT (PEG-DOT)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Subjects randomized to the Peg-DOT arm receive standard on-site treatment (weekly provider-administered pegylated interferon alfa-2a injections) and self-administered twice-daily oral ribavirin. Subjects in the PEG-DOT arm are dispensed monthly medication bottles of ribavirin, and ingest the ribavirin at home.

Other: standard DOT (PEG-DOT control arm)

Interventions

Subjects randomized to the PEG/RBV-DOT arm receive weekly provider-administered pegylated interferon alfa-2a injections plus modified directly observed ribavirin therapy. We describe this as modified because ribavirin ingestion is observed at the methadone window three to six days per week based on the participants' methadone pick-up schedule, and only one of two daily doses is observed.

enhanced DOT (PEG/RBV-DOT)

Subjects randomized to the Peg-DOT arm receive standard on-site treatment (weekly provider-administered pegylated interferon alfa-2a injections) and self-administered twice-daily oral ribavirin. Subjects in the PEG-DOT arm are dispensed monthly medication bottles of ribavirin, and ingest the ribavirin at home.

standard DOT (PEG-DOT)

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • HCV-infected
  • receive HCV medical care at the methadone clinic
  • plan to initiate HCV treatment on-site within the next 3 months
  • psychiatrically stable as determined by HCV treatment provider and/or on-site psychiatrist
  • attend the methadone clinic between three and six days per week to receive methadone
  • stable dose fo methadone for two weeks prior to the baseline visit

You may not qualify if:

  • unable or unwilling to provide informed consent
  • currently receiving HCV treatment
  • primary HCV care provider does not agree to their participation in the trial
  • psychiatrically unstable

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Albert Einstein College of Medicine Division of Substance Abuse

The Bronx, New York, 10461, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Litwin AH, Berg KM, Li X, Hidalgo J, Arnsten JH. Rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial of directly observed hepatitis C treatment delivered in methadone clinics. BMC Infect Dis. 2011 Nov 12;11:315. doi: 10.1186/1471-2334-11-315.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Hepatitis CMedication AdherenceHepatitis C, Chronic

Interventions

Ribavirin

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Blood-Borne InfectionsCommunicable DiseasesInfectionsHepatitis, Viral, HumanVirus DiseasesFlaviviridae InfectionsRNA Virus InfectionsHepatitisLiver DiseasesDigestive System DiseasesPatient CompliancePatient Acceptance of Health CareTreatment Adherence and ComplianceHealth BehaviorBehaviorHepatitis, ChronicChronic DiseaseDisease AttributesPathologic ProcessesPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

RibonucleosidesNucleosidesNucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides

Study Officials

  • Alain Litwin, MD, MPH

    Albert Einstein College of Medicine

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 27, 2011

First Posted

September 28, 2011

Study Start

October 1, 2007

Primary Completion

March 1, 2013

Study Completion

March 1, 2013

Last Updated

June 26, 2015

Record last verified: 2015-06

Locations