CTN-0027: Starting Treatment with Agonist Replacement Therapies (START)

Walter Ling, MD
Lead Investigator
Director, Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, UCLA
lwalter@ix.netcom.com

The CTN participates with the Division of Pharmacotherapies & Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse (DPMCDA) on a multi-centered trial to compare the effect of buprenorphine/naloxone (Bup/Nx) and methadone (MET) on liver function.  This is a randomized, open-label, multi-center, Phase 4 study in participants entering opioid agonist treatment programs at community centers (methadone centers) throughout the country.  The trial started in April 2006.  Participants will be randomized until at least 300 evaluable participants are be available in both the Bup/Nx and MET study arms.  The study will randomize approximately 1200 subjects and is being implemented in 8 sites across 6 Nodes.

Primary Findings

This study demonstrated no evidence of liver damage during the initial 6 months of treatment with either BUP or MET, providing further encouragement to physicians to use buprenorphine as an effective treatment option for opioid addiction.

Primary Outcomes Article: Saxon A, et al. Buprenorphine/Naloxone and Methadone Effects on Laboratory Indices of Liver Health: A Randomized Trial. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 2013;128(1-2):71-76. [get article]

    Node Involvement

    Lead Node(s):

  • Pacific Region Node
  • Western States Node
  • New England Consortium Node

  • All Participating Nodes:

  • Delaware Valley Node
  • New England Consortium Node
  • Pacific Northwest Node
  • Pacific Region Node
  • Western States Node