Effects of Long Term Antibiotic Therapy on Exacerbation Rate in Stable COPD Patients

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common disease which can place a considerable burden on people who suffer from it. COPD exacerbations (periods when symptoms flare up) are a major cause of hospital admission in the UK. Bacterial infections play an important role in the development of COPD and so one possible treatment for COPD is with antibiotics. However, there is little information available about the use of long term antibiotics in the treatment of this disease.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate if long term use of the antibiotic Doxycycline can reduce exacerbations and improve the outlook for these patients.

Inclusion criteria

• Informed consent given
• Confirmed COPD diagnosis
• Severity of disease: Patients with a measured FEV1<80% of predicted normal values.
• At least one treated exacerbation (Patient recalls an episode of symptomatic worsening which was treated and was consistent with a COPD exacerbation) in the previous year.
• Age: ≥ 45 years of age at screening.
• Able to complete questionnaires for health status and symptoms and considered able to comply with the dosing regimen.
• Patients willing to report exacerbations and attend for study visits.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients with a known diagnosis of active TB or other chronic respiratory disease in the judgement of the study doctor.
• Hepatic or renal impairment as defined as LFTs > 5XULN, and eGFR<30 ml/min/1.73m2.
• Patients with known hypersensitivity to Tetracyclines, the IMP and/or Placebo including their excipients.
• Patients taking ongoing antibiotic therapy for COPD or other conditions.
• Patients with uncontrolled clinically significant hypertension
• Female patients who are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant during the study, or are breastfeeding.
• Patients with uncontrolled clinically relevant bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmias or cardiac insufficiency.
• Clinically relevant abnormal electrolyes (sodium or potassium), renal function (urea and creatinine) or liver function (ALT, AST, ALP) that could interfere with the objectives of the trial or safety of the volunteer.
• Patient taking clinically significant contraindicated medication, as per the SmPC for Doxycycline.
• Use of another experimental investigational medicinal product within 3 months of study enrolment. If the IMP used was as part of the NIHR WP2 study then entry to WP3 after a 6 week washout period is permissible.
• Patients with any other condition precluding enrolment in the trial, according to the assessment of the study doctor. This will be documented at screening