Tobacco Use DisorderPhase 2NCT00595868
Efficacy of Varenicline in Ambivalent Smokers
A Phase 2 study testing Varenicline in people with Tobacco Use Disorder and Tobacco Use Cessation, run by University of Vermont Medical Center at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to test whether Varenicline can help ambivalent smokers (those who are interested in quitting at some point in the future but have no current plans to quit) to reduce their smoking and eventually quit. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Tobacco Use Disorder, Tobacco Use Cessation, Nicotine Dependence
- What is being tested?
- Varenicline
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 220 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- Mar 2008to Jan 2010
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- At least 18 years old
- Able to get to research lab in Burlington, Vermont or Omaha, Nebraska
- Daily smoker
- Smoke at least 8 cigarettes per day
- No reduction in smoking in last 30 days
- No intention to quit in the next 30 days
Show all 10Show fewer
- Never used Varenicline before
- Not currently using smoking cessation medications or nicotine replacement therapy
- Willing to use Varenicline for at least 2 weeks
- Fluent in English
Who cannot join
- Cannot be currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Kidney disease
- Frequent nausea
- On certain medications for asthma and/or depression
- Another household member in study
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
University of Vermont
Burlington, Vermont, 05401
Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, Nebraska, 68198
About this study
The purpose of this study is to test whether Varenicline can help ambivalent smokers (those who are interested in quitting at some point in the future but have no current plans to quit) to reduce their smoking and eventually quit.
Read the detailed description
Many smokers want to quit but have no plans to do so in the near future. Recent studies indicate that helping such smokers reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke each day, try medications to see that medications can help control their cravings, can make it easier for them to try to quit. This study tests whether a new medication (generic name = varenicline; brand name = Chantix) can help smokers in these ways.
The investigators will recruit 110 smokers in Vermont and 110 in Omaha, Nebraska, all of whom are interested in quitting some time in the future but have no current plans to quit. These smokers will be assigned by chance to receive either varenicline or a placebo. Neither the participants nor the scientists will know what the participants are receiving. Varenicline is a medication approved for smoking cessation in smokers who already have decided to quit. Varenicline both acts like nicotine to relieve craving and withdrawal when smokers try to quit and, importantly, also blocks the effects of nicotine from cigarettes. When smokers take varenicline and smoke, their cigarettes seem weaker and less beneficial. The investigators believe that making cigarettes less pleasing will make it easier for smokers to reduce, give them more control over their smoking, reduce their addiction to cigarettes, and make it easier for them to quit. After screening and giving consent, smokers will attend a first session to receive medication or placebo and to be instructed in how to use it to reduce their smoking. Smokers will be told they should use the medicine for at least 2 weeks and can use the medication for up to 2 months and, if they try to quit, they can receive an additional 3 months of medication after their quit date. Participants will be seen again at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 2 months for brief help in reducing. After the first 2 months , they will be contacted by phone monthly for four more months. If participants are abstinent at 6 months they will be asked to return to provide a breath sample to verify abstinence. Participants will be asked to complete either written surveys or answer phone interviews and provide breath tests for which they will be reimbursed. The investigators will test, whether after 6 months, more smokers in the varenicline group tried to quit than in the placebo group.
- Being tested
- Varenicline, Placebo
- Keywords
- Nicotine, Smoking, Smoking Cessation
- Medical subject headings
- Tobacco Use Disorder, Tobacco Use Cessation, Smoking, Smoking Cessation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
VareniclineDrug
Also called Chantix
0.5 milligrams two times per day for 3 days, then 1.0 milligrams two times per day for an addition 11 days - 2 months
PlaceboDrug
same as Varenicline arm
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Varenicline | Experimental | Not described Receives: Drug: Varenicline |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Not described Receives: Drug: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Participants With a Quit Attempt
A quit attempt was defined as a self-reported attempt to quit smoking on a given day reported on a Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) obtained at each visit for the first 2 months and via monthly phone calls during months 3-6. The TLFB collected information for each day since the previous visit/call on number of cigarettes smoked that day, whether medication (varenicline or placebo) was used that day, and whether a quit attempt occured that day.
Measured: 6 months
Secondary outcomes (1)
7 Day Point Prevalent Abstinence Verified by Breath Carbon Monoxide of Less Than 10 Parts Per Million
7 day point prevalent abstinence 6 months after enrolling in the study was determined by two steps: (1) A report of no days of smoking for the 7 days prior to the 6 month on the Time Line Follow Back obtained at a telephone call 6 months after enrollment; (2) Those who reported no smoking for the prior 7 days came to our lab for breath carbon monoxide (CO) measurement to confirm abstinence. Breath CO had to be less than 10 parts per million for the participant to be classified as abstinent.
Measured: 6 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Jan 2008 (estimated)
- Study startMar 2008
- Primary completionJan 2010
- Study completionJan 2010
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Tobacco Use DisorderStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 220 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Vermont Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Pfizer
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, John Hughes, University of Vermont Medical Center
- Investigators
- John R Hughes, MD, Principal investigator, University of Vermont
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00595868
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- IIR GA3051DO
- Other IDs
- IIR GA3051DO
- Status last verified
- Nov 2011
- First submitted
- 4 Jan 2008
- Last updated
- 2 Dec 2011
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Publications
Hughes JR, Rennard SI, Fingar JR, Talbot SK, Callas PW, Fagerstrom KO. Efficacy of varenicline to prompt quit attempts in smokers not currently trying to quit: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Nicotine Tob Res. 2011 Oct;13(10):955-64. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntr103. Epub 2011 Jun 7.
PubMed 21652735Livingstone-Banks J, Fanshawe TR, Thomas KH, Theodoulou A, Hajizadeh A, Hartman L, Lindson N. Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 May 5;5(5):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub8.
PubMed 37142273
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Dec 2011. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of Varenicline in Ambivalent Smokers
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT00595868
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- IIR GA3051DO
- Keywords
- Nicotine, Smoking, Smoking Cessation
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 220 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Vermont Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Pfizer
- Study start
- Mar 2008
- Primary completion
- Jan 2010 (actual)
- Study completion
- Jan 2010 (actual)
- First posted
- 16 Jan 2008 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 22 Nov 2011
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to test whether Varenicline can help ambivalent smokers (those who are interested in quitting at some point in the future but have no current plans to quit) to reduce their smoking and eventually quit.
Detailed description
Many smokers want to quit but have no plans to do so in the near future. Recent studies indicate that helping such smokers reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke each day, try medications to see that medications can help control their cravings, can make it easier for them to try to quit. This study tests whether a new medication (generic name = varenicline; brand name = Chantix) can help smokers in these ways.
The investigators will recruit 110 smokers in Vermont and 110 in Omaha, Nebraska, all of whom are interested in quitting some time in the future but have no current plans to quit. These smokers will be assigned by chance to receive either varenicline or a placebo. Neither the participants nor the scientists will know what the participants are receiving. Varenicline is a medication approved for smoking cessation in smokers who already have decided to quit. Varenicline both acts like nicotine to relieve craving and withdrawal when smokers try to quit and, importantly, also blocks the effects of nicotine from cigarettes. When smokers take varenicline and smoke, their cigarettes seem weaker and less beneficial. The investigators believe that making cigarettes less pleasing will make it easier for smokers to reduce, give them more control over their smoking, reduce their addiction to cigarettes, and make it easier for them to quit. After screening and giving consent, smokers will attend a first session to receive medication or placebo and to be instructed in how to use it to reduce their smoking. Smokers will be told they should use the medicine for at least 2 weeks and can use the medication for up to 2 months and, if they try to quit, they can receive an additional 3 months of medication after their quit date. Participants will be seen again at 2 weeks, 4 weeks and 2 months for brief help in reducing. After the first 2 months , they will be contacted by phone monthly for four more months. If participants are abstinent at 6 months they will be asked to return to provide a breath sample to verify abstinence. Participants will be asked to complete either written surveys or answer phone interviews and provide breath tests for which they will be reimbursed. The investigators will test, whether after 6 months, more smokers in the varenicline group tried to quit than in the placebo group.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Quadruple blind (participant, care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Varenicline | Experimental | Drug: Varenicline |
| Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: Placebo |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (10 listed)
- At least 18 years old
- Able to get to research lab in Burlington, Vermont or Omaha, Nebraska
- Daily smoker
- Smoke at least 8 cigarettes per day
- No reduction in smoking in last 30 days
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Cannot be currently pregnant or breastfeeding
- Kidney disease
- Frequent nausea
- On certain medications for asthma and/or depression
- Another household member in study
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| VareniclineAlso: Chantix0.5 milligrams two times per day for 3 days, then 1.0 milligrams two times per day for an addition 11 days - 2 months | Drug | Varenicline |
| Placebosame as Varenicline arm | Drug | Placebo |
Primary outcome
Number of Participants With a Quit Attempt
Time frame: 6 months
A quit attempt was defined as a self-reported attempt to quit smoking on a given day reported on a Time Line Follow Back (TLFB) obtained at each visit for the first 2 months and via monthly phone calls during months 3-6. The TLFB collected information for each day since the previous visit/call on number of cigarettes smoked that day, whether medication (varenicline or placebo) was used that day, and whether a quit attempt occured that day.
1 secondary outcome
7 Day Point Prevalent Abstinence Verified by Breath Carbon Monoxide of Less Than 10 Parts Per Million
Time frame: 6 months
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Dec 2011.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Results publication: PubMed 21652735Hughes JR, Rennard SI, Fingar JR, Talbot SK, Callas PW, Fagerstrom KO. Efficacy of varenicline to prompt quit attempts in smokers not currently trying to quit: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. Nicotine Tob Res. 2011 Oct;13(10):955-64. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntr103. Epub 2011 Jun 7.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 37142273Livingstone-Banks J, Fanshawe TR, Thomas KH, Theodoulou A, Hajizadeh A, Hartman L, Lindson N. Nicotine receptor partial agonists for smoking cessation. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 May 5;5(5):CD006103. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD006103.pub8.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
John R Hughes, MD principal investigator
University of Vermont
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Varenicline in people with Tobacco Use Disorder and Tobacco Use Cessation, run by University of Vermont Medical Center at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 10 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Dec 2011. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 22 Nov 2011). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Participants With a Quit Attempt (time frame: 6 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT00595868, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Dec 2011; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 7 Nov 2026.