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EXHIT ENTRE Comparative Effectiveness Trial

Exemplar Hospital Initiation Trial to Enhance Treatment Engagement - Comparative Effectiveness Trial of Extended Release Buprenorphine Versus Treatment as Usual for Hospitalized Patients With Opioid Use Disorder

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04345718
Acronym
EXHITENTRE
Enrollment
344
Registered
2020-04-14
Start date
2021-08-09
Completion date
2025-08-27
Last updated
2025-12-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Substance Use Disorder, Opioid Use Disorder, Moderate, Opioid Use Disorder, Severe

Keywords

MOUD, XR-BUP, ACS, OUD, SUD

Brief summary

This study is a multi-site open-label randomized comparative effectiveness trial of a 28-day formulation of extended-release buprenorphine (XR-BUP) versus treatment as usual (TAU) for hospitalized patients with a moderate or severe opioid use disorder (OUD) seen by an addiction consultation service (ACS) and agreeing to initiate a medication for OUD (MOUD). Participants will be randomly assigned to XR-BUP or TAU to be received within 72 hours of anticipated hospital discharge. Follow up will occur at approximately 34, 90, and 180 days following hospital discharge.

Detailed description

The study will randomize approximately 314 hospitalized men and women ages 18 years and older with opioid use disorder (OUD) moderate or severe and who have not been taking prescribed medication for OUD (MOUD) for 14 days or more prior to hospitalization. Eligibility will be determined over one or more assessments during the index hospitalization. Once eligibility has been determined, participants will be randomized 1:1 to either a single injection of extended-release buprenorphine or TAU, which will include methadone, sublingual buprenorphine, or naltrexone. Connection to OUD care and ongoing MOUD following hospitalization will be per community standard. Participants will be assessed for engagement in OUD treatment by the presence of a legitimately prescribed MOUD on day 34 following hospital discharge. Further outcomes will be assessed at 90 and 180 days following hospital discharge.

Interventions

XR-BUP administration prior to hospital discharge will increase engagement in OUD care on the 34th day following hospital discharge more than is currently afforded by ACS TAU approaches (e.g., methadone, SL-BUP, and naltrexone).

DRUGTreatment as Usual

Community standard medication for opioid use disorder (e.g., methadone, sublingual buprenorphine, naltrexone) initiated prior to hospital discharge.

Sponsors

Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute
CollaboratorOTHER
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
CollaboratorNIH
The Emmes Company, LLC
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
Gavin Bart
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

This is a multi-site open-label randomized comparative effectiveness trial of a 28-day formulation of XR-BUP versus TAU for hospitalized patients with OUD agreeing to MOUD. Approximately 4-5 sites (hospitals) with existing ACSs experienced in hospital-initiated MOUD will be selected. Identification of patients with OUD will occur as per each site's local practice. Approximately 314 hospitalized patients with OUD who were not receiving prescribed MOUD for at least 14 days prior to hospitalization and are willing to start MOUD including buprenorphine will be randomized 1:1 to two different strategies. After baseline assessments are performed, eligible participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to XR-BUP or TAU

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Hospitalized. 2. At least 18 years of age. 3. Meet Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5) criteria for moderate or severe OUD. 4. Willing to initiate MOUD, including buprenorphine. 5. Able to speak English sufficiently to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

1. Anticipated length of stay less than 24-hours as determined by the ACS 2. Affected by a serious medical, psychiatric, or substance use disorder that, in the opinion of the study physician, would make it unsafe to participate in the study or may prevent collection of study data. This may include: 1. Disabling terminal diagnosis for which discharge from hospital is not anticipated. 2. Disabling terminal diagnosis for which hospice care is being sought. 3. Severe alcohol or benzodiazepine use disorder that is anticipated to require complex medical detoxification which cannot be completed prior to randomization. 3. Taking a long-acting opioid other than buprenorphine (e.g., methadone, extended-release oxycodone, extended-release morphine) in the three consecutive days prior to randomization. 4. Liver enzyme tests (Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT)) more than 5 times upper limit of normal or chronic decompensated liver disease. 5. Currently pregnant. 6. Known allergy to buprenorphine or components of Atrigel delivery system. 7. Receipt of MOUD in the 14 days prior to hospitalization as maintenance treatment; however, patients may have received MOUD for withdrawal management during or prior to hospitalization at the time of enrollment. 8. Are currently in jail, prison or other overnight facility as required by court of law and/or is considered a prisoner under local law or is under current terms of civil commitment or guardianship. 9. Previously randomized as a participant in the study - individuals may only be enrolled and randomized once.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The proportion of participants engaged in OUD care on the 34th day following hospital discharge.34 days post discharge from hospitalEngagement in OUD is defined as coverage with a legitimately prescribed MOUD on that 34th day regardless of the source of prescribed MOUD coverage (e.g., formalized treatment program, primary care, jail, etc.).

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Proportion of participants with self-reported opioid useDays 34, 90 and 180 post hospital discharge
Self-reported 30- and 90-day hospital readmission ratesDays 30 and 90 post hospital discharge
Self-reported 30- and 90-day Emergency Department (ED) visit ratesDays 30 and 90 post hospital discharge
Proportion of participants engaged with MOUDDays 90 and 180 post hospital discharge90- and 180-days following hospital discharge
Proportion of participants with positive urine drug testDays 34, 90 and 180 post hospital dischargefor illicit opioids 34-, and 90-, and 180-days following hospital discharge
Proportion of participants that experience Adverse Events (AE)34 days34-days following hospital discharge

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 10, 2026