Assessing the effectiveness of lithium plus quetiapine compared to lithium alone or quetiapine alone for treatment of adults with bipolar disorder
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN17178652 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN17178652 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 1010672 |
| Protocol serial number | RG_24-081 |
| Sponsor | University of Birmingham |
| Funder | National Institute for Health and Care Research |
- Submission date
- 05/03/2025
- Registration date
- 19/06/2025
- Last edited
- 19/06/2025
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
To evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of combination lithium and quetiapine therapy compared with lithium or quetiapine alone for maintenance treatment in adults with bipolar disorder (BD).
The COMBINER trial is a pragmatic, phase 3, observer blind, multicentred, 3-arm, parallel group, randomisation-controlled trial with an internal pilot.
The trial is looking at two types of medication, lithium and quetiapine. These are used as maintenance treatment, which means patients are advised to take them in the longer term to reduce the risk of having major periods of depression or feeling elated. The trial is investigating whether these drugs taken together or on their own are better at reducing the chances that a person will experience these episodes in the longer term. We know both medications work, but we don’t know which is better, or if combining the two could be best.
Who can participate?
We aim to recruit 303 people with bipolar who will be randomised between lithium, quetiapine, or both combined.
What does the study involve?
The COMBINER trial will run for 68 months altogether, with recruitment due to start in May 2025. Participants will be asked to take their randomised treatment for a follow up period of up to two years. Various assessments will let us answer the question of which treatment is best as a long term treatment to prevent mood episodes, but also the acceptability of each treatment to people with bipolar (e.g. symptoms, side effects) and things like quality of life and cost effectiveness. Participants will have 3 monthly remote follow up visits for 24 months, with more indepth and longer assessments at trial entry, year one, and year two.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Not provided at time of registration
Where is the study run from?
University of Birmingham (UK)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
February 2025 to July 2029
Who is funding the study?
National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) (UK).
Who is the main contact?
combiner@trials.bham.ac.uk
Contact information
Principal investigator
52 Pritchatts Road
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom
| Phone | +44 121 414 3665 |
|---|---|
| s.marwaha@bham.ac.uk |
Scientific
Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit
Public Health Building (Y17)
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2 TT
United Kingdom
| s.hopkins.2@bham.ac.uk |
Public
Birmingham Clinical Trials Unit
Public Health Building (Y17)
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TT
United Kingdom
| combiner@trials.bham.ac.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Interventional single blind randomized controlled trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Scientific title | The effectiveness of lithium plus quetiapine COMBination versus lithIum versus quetiapiNe monothErapy in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disordeR: the COMBINER trial |
| Study acronym | COMBINER |
| Study objectives | The primary objective is to evaluate whether a combination of lithium and quetiapine increases the time to next mood episode (e.g. mania or depression) over 24 months in comparison to monotherapy with lithium or quetiapine alone in the maintenance (i.e. long term) treatment of BD. The secondary objective is to evaluate in the maintenance treatment of bipolar disorder: 1. The effectiveness of lithium vs quetiapine on time to next mood episode over 24 months. 2. The impact of lithium plus quetiapine vs lithium vs quetiapine on the following outcomes: time to next specified mood episode over 24 months, mania, depression, anxiety, health-related quality of life, functioning, side effects, patient acceptability, hospitalisation, service use, treatment adherence, occupational/educational outcomes, comorbid mental conditions, physical health, suicidal ideation, use of emergency medication, and time to stopping allocated treatment. 3. The cost-effectiveness of lithium plus quetiapine vs lithium vs quetiapine. |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Not yet submitted, to be confirmed, ref: 25/LO/0226 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Bipolar disorder |
| Intervention | Participants will be randomised in a 1:1:1 ratio to a combination of lithium and quetiapine or lithium or quetiapine. Lithium (carbonate / citrate): initiation in line with usual practice or local Trust guidance, with plasma monitoring to reach a target plasma lithium level of 0.6-0.8 mMol/L, and titration to be individualised according to tolerability and participant characteristics, e.g. age. Quetiapine: initiated at 50 mg/day. Titration to a target dose of 300-800 mg daily in line with usual practice or local Trust guidance, to be individualised according to tolerability and participant characteristics. Trial medication will be prescribed and dispensed as in usual local practice with flexible, clinician/ patient driven choices on dosage adjustment and medication form (immediate or modified release). Titration will be over 4 weeks or more as required. Participants will have 3 monthly remote follow up visits for 24 months, with more indepth and longer assessments at trial entry, year one, and year two. Randomisation process: Participants will be randomised at the level of the individual in a 1:1:1 ratio to lithium and quetiapine or lithium or quetiapine. Randomisation will be provided by BCTU using a secure online system, thereby ensuring allocation concealment. |
| Intervention type | Drug |
| Phase | Phase III |
| Drug / device / biological / vaccine name(s) | Lithium carbonate, quetiapine fumarate |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Time to first new mood episode over 24 months post-randomisation measured using the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (LIFE) 3 monthly |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Time to first new specified mood episode (mania, hypomania, mixed mood, depressive) over 24 months measured using the LIFE 3 monthly. |
| Completion date | 31/07/2029 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 303 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Diagnosis of BD type I or II according to the DSM-5 confirmed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). 2. Aged ≥18 years. 3. Not currently in a mood episode (major depression, mixed episode, hypomania or mania) according to the DSM-5, defined as a score on the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation (LIFE) of 4 or below. 4. If already on lithium or quetiapine, the patient and clinician are willing to consider the trial and potentially switch treatment. 5. Able to provide informed consent. |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Primary diagnosis of substance dependence or organic mood disorder. 2. Acute risk to self (clinician opinion). 3. Unstable medical illness that requires acute care (e.g. hospitalisation). 4. Contraindication to lithium or quetiapine: 4.1. Evidence of renal impairment (participant must have an eGFR ≥60 mls/min/1.73m² within two months prior to consent). 4.2. Medical conditions in which lithium use presents a risk (untreated hypothyroidism, Addison’s disease, untreated epilepsy, cardiac insufficiency, rhythm disorders including Brugada syndrome or family history thereof, psoriasis) 4.3. Incompatible concurrent treatment (such as long term NSAID, diuretic, ACE-I or ARB) for a known medical condition for which no alternative treatment is available 5. Females of child-bearing potential only: 5.1. Pregnant. Note: Spot urine test will be performed before randomisation to rule out pregnancy in females of child-bearing potential 5.2. Not willing to take highly effective contraceptive measures during the study intervention period AND for 30 days following the last trial medication dose. |
| Date of first enrolment | 20/05/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 31/07/2027 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | Requests for data generated during this study will be considered by BCTU (via bctudatashare@contacts.bham.ac.uk). Data will typically be available within six months after the primary publication unless it is not possible to share the data (for example: the trial results are to be used as part of a regulatory submission, the release of the data is subject to the approval of a third party who withholds their consent, or BCTU is not the controller of the data). Only scientifically sound proposals from appropriately qualified Research Groups will be considered for data sharing. The request will be reviewed by the BCTU Data Sharing Committee in discussion with the Chief Investigator and, where appropriate (or in absence of the Chief Investigator) any of the following: the Trial Sponsor, the relevant Trial Management Group (TMG), and independent Trial Steering Committee (TSC). A formal Data Sharing Agreement (DSA) may be required between respective organisations once release of the data is approved and before data can be released. Data will be fully de-identified (anonymised) unless the DSA covers transfer of patient identifiable information. Any data transfer will use a secure and encrypted method. |
Editorial Notes
05/03/2025: Trial's existence confirmed by NHS HRA.
