Roflumilast or Azithromycin to Prevent COPD Exacerbations (RELIANCE) (RELIANCE)

May 28, 2026 updated by: Johns Hopkins University
A multi-center, randomized, 72-month, parallel- group, non-inferiority, phase III study to compare the effectiveness of roflumilast (Daliresp, 500 mcg quaque die (QD) or alternate regimen) therapy versus azithromycin (250 mg QD, 500 mg QD three times per week, or alternate regimen) to prevent hospitalization or death in a patients at high risk for COPD exacerbations.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

RELIANCE is a U.S.-based pragmatic clinical trial funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) to compare long-term use of roflumilast vs. azithromycin in up to 1,250 patients. It is intended to support hospital efforts to reduce the risk of all-cause hospitalization and reduce pre-mature deaths in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who have been hospitalized in the prior year for a COPD exacerbation. The COPD Patient Powered Research Network (PPRN) and affiliated investigators will conduct the trial in sites in the U.S.

Both roflumilast and azithromycin have been shown to reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations compared to placebo. However, there has not been a head-to-head comparison of the two medications so the relative harms and benefits of the two medications are unknown. Eligible patients will be randomized (1:1) to receive either a prescription for roflumilast or a prescription for azithromycin, and will be followed for at least 6 and up to 72 months. Patients will be enrolled at participating clinical sites and follow up data will be collected via an online patient portal or via a call center. Baseline and outcome data will also be collected from site medical records.

Pragmatic, non-inferiority trial using an intention-to-treat analysis to evaluate whether daily azithromycin is non-inferior to daily roflumilast in patients at high risk of COPD exacerbations. The investigators will randomize individual patients to receive prescriptions for roflumilast or azithromycin (1:1 ratio), stratified by site and current smoking status (yes/no).

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1032

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Alabama
      • Birmingham, Alabama, United States, 35233
        • University of Alabama
    • Arizona
      • Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85734
        • University of Arizona
    • California
      • Sacramento, California, United States, 95817
        • University of California, Davis Health
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Northwestern
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60612
        • University of Illinois, Chicago
      • Glenview, Illinois, United States, 60026
        • NorthShore Hospital
    • Iowa
      • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
        • University of Iowa
    • Kansas
      • Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160
        • University of Kansas
    • Louisiana
      • New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, 70121
        • Ochsner Medical Center
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
        • Johns Hopkins University
    • Massachusetts
      • Springfield, Massachusetts, United States, 01199
        • Baystate Health
    • Michigan
      • Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
        • University of Michigan
      • Detroit, Michigan, United States, 48202
        • Henry Ford Health System
    • Missouri
      • Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64108
        • University of Missouri, Kansas City
    • New York
      • Mount Kisco, New York, United States, 10549
        • Northern Westchester Hospital/Northwell Health
      • New York, New York, United States, 10029
        • Mount Sinai
      • New York, New York, United States, 10075
        • Lenox Hill Hospital/Northwell Health
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
        • University of North Carolina, School of Medicine
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27705
        • Duke
    • Ohio
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44195
        • Cleveland Clinic
      • Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44106
        • University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
      • Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
        • Ohio State University
    • Oregon
      • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97227
        • Kaiser Permanente
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19140
        • Temple University Hospital
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
        • University of Pittsburg Medical Center
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75246
        • Baylor Scott & White (BSW) Health-North
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • Houston Methodist Hospital
    • Vermont
      • Burlington, Vermont, United States, 05401
        • University of Vermont
    • Washington
      • Spokane, Washington, United States, 99204
        • Providence Health and Services

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

40 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Patient and treating clinician considering treatment intensification with roflumilast or azithromycin to reduce the risk of COPD exacerbations
  2. Age ≥ 40 years
  3. Current or past smoker of at least 10 pack-years
  4. Diagnosis by treating clinician of severe COPD and associated chronic bronchitis
  5. Hospitalized with a diagnosis of COPD exacerbation or respiratory complications due to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID 19) in the past 12 months
  6. Current medications include inhaled Long Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (LAMA), Long-Acting Beta-Agonist (LABA) /LAMA, or Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) /LABA(note patients prescribed or using Short-Acting Beta-Agonist (SABA), Short-Acting Muscarinic Antagonist (SAMA), or SABA/SAMA on a scheduled basis (e.g., every 6 hours) are eligible since the patient is receiving functional controller therapy)
  7. English or Spanish speaking
  8. Willing and able to provide a contact telephone number

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Unable or declines to provide informed consent
  2. Declines to provide social security number, health insurance claims number or Tax Payer ID (as applicable)
  3. History of intolerance to azithromycin or roflumilast that the patient or patient's treating clinician considers sufficiently serious to avoid either treatment option
  4. Current treatment with long-term (more than 30 days) roflumilast, azithromycin or ensifentrine (previous treatment with 1 or more doses of azithromycin, roflumilast or ensifentrine is not an exclusion criterion, as long as the patient and clinician are seeking treatment intensification options and would be willing to use azithromycin or roflumilast, as per randomized treatment assignment.)
  5. Known hypersensitivity to azithromycin, erythromycin, any macrolide or ketolide antibiotic
  6. History of cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction associated with prior use of azithromycin
  7. Moderate to severe liver impairment (Child-Pugh B or C)
  8. Current pregnancy
  9. Any other clinician-determined exclusion as per the clinician's clinical practice
  10. The clinicians will be provided the FDA-approved prescribing information for roflumilast and azithromycin. The prescribing information includes a list of warnings and precautions that identifies the potential for adverse effects and is intended to support clinical decision-making that takes into account the risks and benefits of roflumilast and azithromycin for each patient.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Roflumilast arm
Participants will receive prescription for Roflumilast (250 mcg/day x 4 weeks, then 500 mcg/day or alternate regimen) x 6 to 72 months
Drug: Roflumilast
Prescription for Roflumilast (250 mcg/day x 4 weeks, then 500 mcg/day or alternate regimen) x 6 to 72 months
Other Names:
  • Daliresp
Active Comparator: Azithromycin arm
Participants will receive prescription for Azithromycin (250 mg/day, or 500 mg three times per week, or alternate regimen) x 6 to 72 months
Drug: Azithromycin
Prescription for Azithromycin (250 mg/day, or 500 mg three times per week, or alternate regimen) x 6 to 72 months
Other Names:
  • Zithromax

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to first all-cause hospitalization or all-cause death
Time Frame: Up to 72 months
Composite time-to-event outcome defined as time from randomization to the first occurrence of all-cause hospitalization or all-cause death. Participants without an event will be censored at the date of last contact.
Up to 72 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Time to first moderate COPD exacerbation, all-cause hospitalization or all-cause death
Time Frame: Up to 72 months
Composite time-to-event outcome defined as time from randomization to the first occurrence of moderate COPD exacerbation, all-cause hospitalization, or all-cause death. Moderate COPD exacerbation is defined as treatment with antibiotics or systemic corticosteroids for a respiratory exacerbation not associated with hospitalization.
Up to 72 months
Time to first of individual components of the primary and secondary composite outcomes
Time Frame: Up to 72 months
Time from randomization to the first occurrence of each individual component: moderate COPD exacerbation, all-cause hospitalization, and all-cause death. Each component will be evaluated separately.
Up to 72 months
Change in physical function as assessed by the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change from baseline in physical function using the PROMIS physical function measure. Higher scores indicate better physical function. Score range 1-5 (i.e., a score of 5 is the most favorable and a score of 1 is least favorable).
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change in sleep disturbance as assessed by the PROMIS scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change from baseline in sleep disturbance using the PROMIS sleep disturbance measure. Higher scores indicate more sleep disturbance. Score range 1-5 (i.e., a score of 1 is least favorable and 5 is most favorable).
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change in fatigue as assessed by the PROMIS scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change from baseline in fatigue using the PROMIS fatigue measure. Higher scores indicate greater fatigue. Score range 0-4 (i.e., a score of 0 is most favorable and 4 is least favorable.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change in anxiety as assessed by the PROMIS scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change from baseline in anxiety using the PROMIS anxiety measure. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety. Score range 1-5 (i.e., a score of 1 is most favorable and 5 is least favorable).
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change in depression as assessed by the PROMIS scale
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change from baseline in depression using the PROMIS depression measure. Higher scores indicate greater depression. Score range 1-5 (i.e., a score of 1 is most favorable and 5 is least favorable).
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Number of Adverse Events
Time Frame: Up to 72 months
Number of participants reporting one or more adverse events during follow-up, including hearing decrement, diarrhea, nausea, suicidal ideation, or other adverse events.
Up to 72 months
Percentage Medication Adherence to assigned study treatment
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
For each participant, adherence is defined as the percentage of evaluable follow-up assessments at which the participant reports use of assigned study treatment. The outcome summarizes participant-reported adherence across follow-up among participants with at least one evaluable post-baseline medication use assessment.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Number of participants who switch to alternate study medication
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Number of participants with any follow-up report of prescription for the alternative study treatment after randomization.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Out of pocket cost for study medication
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Participant-reported out-of-pocket cost (measured in U.S. dollars) for assigned study treatment.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change in weight (pounds)
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Change from baseline in participant-reported weight, measured in pounds.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Number of participants who discontinued assigned study treatment
Time Frame: Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months
Number of participants meeting protocol-defined treatment discontinuation, defined as the earliest follow-up assessment at which the participant reports not taking assigned study treatment during the interval since the prior assessment, with no subsequent report of treatment use. Because medication use is collected over recall intervals rather than exact stop dates, discontinuation reflects the earliest follow-up time point consistent with persistent non-use of assigned study treatment.
Baseline, 3 months, 6 months and every 6 months up to 72 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
University of Illinois at Chicago

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jerry Krishnan, MD, PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Principal Investigator: Robert Wise, MD, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
February 11, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 1, 2026

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 23, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 23, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 28, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
May 28, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB00179281

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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