Alteplase Compared to Tenecteplase in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

NCT ID: NCT03889249

Last Updated: 2023-05-12

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

PHASE3

Total Enrollment

1600 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2019-12-10

Study Completion Date

2023-04-30

Brief Summary

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The proposed trial is a pragmatic, registry linked, prospective, randomized (1:1) controlled, open-label parallel group clinical trial with blinded endpoint assessment of 1600 patients to test if intravenous tenecteplase (0.25 mg/kg body weight, max dose 25 mg) is non-inferior to intravenous alteplase (0.9 mg/kg body weight) in patients with acute ischemic stroke otherwise eligible for intravenous thrombolysis as per standard care. All patients will have standard of care medical management on an acute stroke unit. There are no additional trial specific management recommendations. Patients will be followed for approximately 90-120 days.

Detailed Description

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There are two established therapies for acute ischemic stroke, namely intravenous alteplase and endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). The guiding principles behind these therapies are fast, effective and safe reperfusion of ischemic brain. Patients with acute ischemic stroke presenting within 4.5 hours from symptom onset are administered intravenous alteplase. If there is evidence of large vessel occlusion (LVO), these patients are transferred to the nearest comprehensive stroke center (CSC) for EVT.Physicians, hospitals and health systems are focused on implementing efficient triaging systems and workflow processes to improve speed and efficacy of administration of these life-saving therapies. Although efforts over the years with intravenous alteplase administration has resulted in improvement in efficiency metrics like door to needle time (DTN) and door-in-door-out (DIDO) time, these metrics are still not optimal, and the therapy is underutilized. Physicians continue to have concerns about low early reperfusion rates, increased risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and challenges with drug administration (bolus + 60-minute infusion) with intravenous alteplase.

Recent phase II trials have shown that intravenous tenecteplase is potentially safer and may achieve higher early reperfusion rates than alteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Bolus administration makes tenecteplase easier to administer than alteplase (which requires infusion pumps). Transfer of patients from primary stroke centers (PSC) to comprehensive stroke centers (CSCs) is potentially easier without infusion pumps. Moreover, depending on the province, tenecteplase either costs the same, or even less, than alteplase. It is therefore possible that the use of intravenous tenecteplase in patients with acute ischemic stroke otherwise eligible for intravenous alteplase may result in faster administration of thrombolysis and more efficient transport to CSCs, thus saving time, reducing adverse events (intracranial hemorrhage) and potentially improving patient outcomes, while saving the health system costs. For these various reasons, robust evidence that tenecteplase is non-inferior to alteplase as an intravenous thrombolytic agent in patients with acute ischemic stroke will change current clinical practice as it did in patients with myocardial infarction. The proposed trial is therefore a pragmatic, registry linked, prospective, randomized (1:1) controlled, open-label parallel group clinical trial with blinded endpoint assessment of 1600 patients to generate real world evidence whether intravenous tenecteplase (0.25 mg/kg body weight, max dose 25 mg) is non-inferior to intravenous alteplase (0.9 mg/kg body weight) in patients with acute ischemic stroke otherwise eligible for intravenous thrombolysis as per current standard of care.

Conditions

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Stroke, Acute Thromboses, Intracranial

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

The proposed trial is a pragmatic, registry linked, prospective, randomized (1:1) controlled, open-label parallel group clinical trial with blinded endpoint assessment of 1600 patients to test if intravenous tenecteplase (0.25 mg/kg body weight, max dose 25 mg) is non-inferior to intravenous alteplase (0.9 mg/kg body weight) in patients with acute ischemic stroke otherwise eligible for intravenous thrombolysis as per standard care.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
90 day outcomes are assessed in a blinded manner

Study Groups

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Tenecteplase (tNK-TPA)

The intervention group will receive intravenous tenecteplase as a single bolus as per the standard manufacturers' instructions for use. The dose administered will be 0.25 mg/kg body weight (maximum dose 25 mg) over 10-20 seconds as soon as possible after randomization. Tenecteplase has a longer half-life, is more fibrin specific, produces less systemic depletion of circulating fibrinogen, and is more resistant to plasminogen activator inhibitor than alteplase.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Tenecteplase

Intervention Type DRUG

Stroke Thrombolytic

Alteplase ( tPA)

The control group will receive standard of care dosing of intravenous alteplase (0.9 mg/kg body weight, 10% bolus and 90% infusion as per standard care, maximum dose 90 mg).

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Alteplase

Intervention Type DRUG

Stroke Thrombolytic

Interventions

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Tenecteplase

Stroke Thrombolytic

Intervention Type DRUG

Alteplase

Stroke Thrombolytic

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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tNK tPA

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* All patients with acute ischemic stroke eligible to receive intravenous alteplase as per standard care will be eligible for enrolment in the proposed trial.
* Patients eligible for endovascular thrombectomy in addition to intravenous thrombolysis are eligible for enrolment.

Exclusion Criteria

* Contra-indications to intravenous thrombolysis as used by treating physicians as current standard of care apply.
* The benefits of thrombolysis with intravenous alteplase in the pediatric population is unknown. Any patient \< 18 years of age may therefore not be enrolled.
* Women with pregnancy known to the investigator by history or examination, without requiring pregnancy testing, may only be enrolled in consultation with an expert stroke physician (either in person or through tele-stroke)
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Calgary

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Dr. Bijoy Menon

Stroke Neurologist, Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Bijoy K Menon, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Calgary

Locations

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University of Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

Grey Nuns Hospital

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

University of Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

Medicine Hat Regional Hospital

Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

Red Deer Regional Hospital

Red Deer, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

Kelowna General Hospital

Kelowna, B.C., Canada

Site Status

Royal Columbian Hospital

New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Site Status

Vancouver General Hospital

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Site Status

University of Manitoba

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Site Status

Halifax Infirmary Queen Elizabeth II

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Site Status

Hamilton Health Sciences General Hospital

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Kingston Health Science Centre

Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

London Health Sciences

London, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Ottawa Civic Hospital

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

St. Michaels Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Toronto Western Hospital

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada

Site Status

CHUM -Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

Univerisite Laval-Hopital de l'Enfant-Jesus

Québec, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

Universite de Sherbrooke

Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

Royal University Hospital

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

References

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Sujanthan S, Rajkumar G, Dainty KN, Barense M, Lanctot KL, Owen AM, Singh N, Buck BH, Khosravani H, Coutts SB, Almekhlafi M, Appireddy R, Tkach A, Catanese L, Dowlatshahi D, Mandzia J, Pikula A, Williams H, Field TS, Manosalva A, Siddiqui M, Hunter G, Horn M, Bala F, Hill MD, Shamy M, Ganesh A, Sajobi T, Menon BK, Swartz RH; AcT Trial Investigators. Faster Thrombolysis Is Associated With Improved Cognitive Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated With Alteplase and Tenecteplase: A Substudy of the AcT Trial. Stroke. 2025 Oct;56(10):2858-2865. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.125.051670. Epub 2025 Jul 18.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40677228 (View on PubMed)

Singh N, Bala F, Ademola A, Almekhlafi M, Coutts SB, Deschaintre Y, Khosravani H, Buck BH, Appireddy R, Moreau F, Gubitz G, Tkach A, Catanese L, Dowlatshahi D, Medvedev G, Mandzia J, Pikula A, Shankar JJ, Poppe AY, Williams H, Field TS, Manosalva A, Siddiqui M, Zafar A, Imoukhoude O, Hunter G, Shamy M, Demchuk A, Swartz RH, Hill MD, Sajobi TT, Menon BK, Ganesh A. Safety, Functional Disability, Healthcare Utilization, and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Elderly Receiving Alteplase and Tenecteplase: A Secondary Analysis From the AcT Trial. Stroke. 2025 May;56(5):1169-1179. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.049512. Epub 2025 Mar 24.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 40123483 (View on PubMed)

Bala F, Diprose W, Menon BK, Singh N, Khosravani H, Tkach A, Catanese L, Dowlatshahi D, Field TS, Hunter G, Sajobi T, Hill MD, Buck BH, Swartz RH, Almekhlafi MA. Effect of thrombolysis type on the efficacy of aspiration versus stent retriever first line thrombectomy: results from the AcT trial. J Neurointerv Surg. 2025 Jun 1;17(e2):e276-e280. doi: 10.1136/jnis-2024-022268.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39379314 (View on PubMed)

Sajobi TT, Arimoro OI, Ademola A, Singh N, Bala F, Almekhlafi MA, Deschaintre Y, Coutts SB, Thirunavukkarasu S, Khosravani H, Appireddy R, Moreau F, Gubitz GJ, Tkach A, Catanese L, Dowlatshahi D, Medvedev G, Mandzia J, Pikula A, Shankar JS, Williams H, Field TS, Manosalva A, Siddiqui M, Zafar A, Imoukhuede O, Hunter G, Demchuk AM, Mishra SM, Gioia LC, Jalini S, Cayer C, Phillips SJ, Elamin E, Shoamanesh A, Subramaniam S, Kate MP, Jacquin G, Camden MC, Benali F, Alhabli I, Horn M, Stotts G, Hill MD, Gladstone DJ, Poppe AY, Sehgal A, Zhang Q, Lethebe B, Doram C, Shamy M, Kenney C, Buck BH, Swartz RH, Menon BK. Quality of Life After Intravenous Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke: Results From the AcT Randomized Controlled Trial. Stroke. 2024 Mar;55(3):524-531. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.044690. Epub 2024 Jan 26.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38275116 (View on PubMed)

Kim DJ, Singh N, Catanese L, Yu AYX, Demchuk AM, Lloret-Villas MI, Deschaintre Y, Coutts SB, Khosravani H, Appireddy R, Moreau F, Gubitz G, Tkach A, Dowlatshahi D, Medvedev G, Mandzia J, Pikula A, Shankar J, Williams H, Manosalva H, Siddiqui M, Zafar A, Imoukhuede O, Hunter G, Phillips S, Hill MD, Poppe AY, Ademola A, Shamy M, Bala F, Sajobi TT, Swartz RH, Almekhlafi MA, Menon BK, Field TS. Sex-Based Analysis of Workflow and Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated With Alteplase Versus Tenecteplase. Stroke. 2024 Feb;55(2):288-295. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.045320. Epub 2024 Jan 4.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38174568 (View on PubMed)

Singh N, Almekhlafi MA, Bala F, Ademola A, Coutts SB, Deschaintre Y, Khosravani H, Buck B, Appireddy R, Moreau F, Gubitz G, Tkach A, Catanese L, Dowlatshahi D, Medvedev G, Mandzia J, Pikula A, Shankar JJ, Ghrooda E, Poppe AY, Williams H, Field TS, Manosalva A, Siddiqui MM, Zafar A, Imoukhoude O, Hunter G, Shamy M, Demchuk AM, Claggett BL, Hill MD, Sajobi TT, Swartz RH, Menon BK. Effect of Time to Thrombolysis on Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated With Tenecteplase Compared to Alteplase: Analysis From the AcT Randomized Controlled Trial. Stroke. 2023 Nov;54(11):2766-2775. doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.123.044267. Epub 2023 Oct 6.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37800372 (View on PubMed)

Menon BK, Buck BH, Singh N, Deschaintre Y, Almekhlafi MA, Coutts SB, Thirunavukkarasu S, Khosravani H, Appireddy R, Moreau F, Gubitz G, Tkach A, Catanese L, Dowlatshahi D, Medvedev G, Mandzia J, Pikula A, Shankar J, Williams H, Field TS, Manosalva A, Siddiqui M, Zafar A, Imoukhuede O, Hunter G, Demchuk AM, Mishra S, Gioia LC, Jalini S, Cayer C, Phillips S, Elamin E, Shoamanesh A, Subramaniam S, Kate M, Jacquin G, Camden MC, Benali F, Alhabli I, Bala F, Horn M, Stotts G, Hill MD, Gladstone DJ, Poppe A, Sehgal A, Zhang Q, Lethebe BC, Doram C, Ademola A, Shamy M, Kenney C, Sajobi TT, Swartz RH; AcT Trial Investigators. Intravenous tenecteplase compared with alteplase for acute ischaemic stroke in Canada (AcT): a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, registry-linked, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial. Lancet. 2022 Jul 16;400(10347):161-169. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01054-6. Epub 2022 Jun 29.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 35779553 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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Version 2.0 (Sponsor assigned)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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