Intravenous Thrombolysis Combined With Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke

NCT ID: NCT07290751

Last Updated: 2025-12-23

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

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE4

Total Enrollment

976 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-11-11

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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This multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial (ANGEL-DRUG2) aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous tirofiban following intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke who show insufficient neurological improvement after initial treatment. Eligible patients (≥18 years, baseline NIHSS ≥4, within 4.5 hours from last known well) will be randomized 1:1 to receive either tirofiban or placebo infusion for 24 hours, followed by standard oral antiplatelet therapy. The primary endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes include changes in NIHSS score, vessel recanalization, infarct volume, distribution of mRS scores, recurrent stroke, and health-related quality of life. Safety outcomes focus on symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and all-cause mortality. Approximately 976 patients will be enrolled across 30 sites in China.

Detailed Description

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Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and endovascular therapy (EVT) are guideline-recommended treatments, but many patients continue to experience unsatisfactory neurological recovery after IVT alone. Early antiplatelet therapy is recommended as adjunctive management, and tirofiban, a selective and reversible intravenous glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor, has shown promise in reducing platelet aggregation and thrombus formation without significantly increasing symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. However, robust evidence regarding its efficacy and safety in AIS patients with poor neurological improvement after IVT is lacking.

ANGEL-DRUG2 is designed to fill this knowledge gap. This trial will enroll 976 patients at 30 centers who present with acute ischemic stroke, have received IVT within 4.5 hours of onset, and demonstrate poor or worsening neurological improvement within 1 hour post-IVT (defined as NIHSS score decrease \<2 or increase ≥1). Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio, stratified by center, to receive either tirofiban infusion (0.4 μg/kg/min for 30 minutes, then 0.1 μg/kg/min for 23.5 hours) or placebo (normal saline) infusion of the same regimen. Both groups will be transitioned at 20 hours to standard oral antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and/or clopidogrel).

The primary efficacy endpoint is the proportion of patients achieving a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2 at 90±7 days. Secondary efficacy endpoints include NIHSS change at 36±12 hours, vessel recanalization on CTA/MRA, infarct volume, distribution of mRS scores at multiple timepoints, recurrent stroke within 90 days, and EQ-5D-5L quality-of-life scores. Safety endpoints include symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 48 hours (Heidelberg criteria), any intracranial hemorrhage, and all-cause mortality at 90 days.

This rigorously designed study will provide high-quality evidence regarding whether tirofiban, when added to IVT in AIS patients with poor early response, can improve functional outcomes without unacceptable safety risks.

Conditions

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Acute Ischemic Stroke

Keywords

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stroke tirofiban thrombolysis

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Arm A - Tirofiban

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Tirofiban

Intervention Type DRUG

After intravenous thrombolysis, if neurological improvement is insufficient (NIHSS score decrease \<2 within 1 hour or NIHSS increase ≥1), tirofiban infusion is initiated within 1 hour. The regimen consists of 0.4 μg/kg/min for 30 minutes, followed by 0.1 μg/kg/min for 23.5 hours (total 24 hours). At the 20th hour of infusion, oral antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 100 mg once daily and/or clopidogrel 75 mg once daily) is initiated, overlapping with tirofiban for 4 hours (bridge therapy). At 24 hours, tirofiban infusion is completed, and patients continue oral antiplatelet therapy per protocol.

Arm B - Placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo (0.9% normal saline)

Intervention Type OTHER

Matched normal saline infusion using the same dosing schedule and pump rates as the tirofiban arm (0.4 μg/kg/min for 30 minutes, then 0.1 μg/kg/min for 23.5 hours; total 24 hours). At the 20th hour of infusion, oral antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 100 mg once daily and/or clopidogrel 75 mg once daily) is initiated, overlapping with placebo infusion for 4 hours (bridge therapy). At 24 hours, placebo infusion is completed, and patients continue oral antiplatelet therapy per protocol.

Interventions

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Tirofiban

After intravenous thrombolysis, if neurological improvement is insufficient (NIHSS score decrease \<2 within 1 hour or NIHSS increase ≥1), tirofiban infusion is initiated within 1 hour. The regimen consists of 0.4 μg/kg/min for 30 minutes, followed by 0.1 μg/kg/min for 23.5 hours (total 24 hours). At the 20th hour of infusion, oral antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 100 mg once daily and/or clopidogrel 75 mg once daily) is initiated, overlapping with tirofiban for 4 hours (bridge therapy). At 24 hours, tirofiban infusion is completed, and patients continue oral antiplatelet therapy per protocol.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo (0.9% normal saline)

Matched normal saline infusion using the same dosing schedule and pump rates as the tirofiban arm (0.4 μg/kg/min for 30 minutes, then 0.1 μg/kg/min for 23.5 hours; total 24 hours). At the 20th hour of infusion, oral antiplatelet therapy (aspirin 100 mg once daily and/or clopidogrel 75 mg once daily) is initiated, overlapping with placebo infusion for 4 hours (bridge therapy). At 24 hours, placebo infusion is completed, and patients continue oral antiplatelet therapy per protocol.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Age ≥18 years.
2. Pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1.
3. Acute ischemic stroke symptoms within 4.5 hours of last known well time.
4. Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥4.
5. Poor neurological improvement 1 hour after intravenous thrombolysis, defined as NIHSS decrease \<2 points, or neurological worsening within 1 hour, defined as NIHSS increase ≥1 point.
6. Not planned for or not eligible for endovascular treatment.
7. Subject or legally authorized representative can provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Evidence of intracranial hemorrhage on imaging before randomization.
2. Non-ischemic intracranial pathologies, such as vascular malformation, aneurysm, tumor, abscess, or demyelinating disease.
3. Large or medium vessel stenosis requiring thrombectomy or intra-arterial thrombolysis.
4. Contraindications to tirofiban, including but not limited to:Known hypersensitivity to tirofiban; Severe hepatic dysfunction (ALT \>2× ULN or AST \>2× ULN); Severe renal dysfunction (serum creatinine \>1.5× ULN); Advanced heart failure (NYHA class III-IV); Coagulation disorders or history of systemic bleeding; History of thrombocytopenia or neutropenia; Prior drug-induced hematologic disease or liver dysfunction; Leukopenia (\<2×10\^9/L) or platelet count \<100×10\^9/L.
5. Use of tirofiban or other GP IIb/IIIa inhibitors before randomization, or planned use of such agents after randomization.
6. Definite cardioembolic source, including but not limited to: chronic or paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, sick sinus syndrome, mitral stenosis, mechanical prosthetic heart valves, infective endocarditis, history of intracardiac thrombus, myocardial infarction within 3 months, dilated cardiomyopathy, spontaneous left atrial echo contrast, or left ventricular ejection fraction \<30%.
7. Pregnancy or lactation.
8. Expected survival \<6 months.
9. Pre-existing neurological or psychiatric disorders that may interfere with outcome assessment.
10. Unlikely to complete 90-day follow-up.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Beijing Anzhen Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Xiaochuan Huo

Director

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Beijing Anzhen Hospital,Capital Medical University

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Xiaochuan Huo

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +8613716292262

Email: [email protected]

Xin Tong

Role: CONTACT

Phone: +8617810651085

Email: [email protected]

References

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Yang M, Huo X, Miao Z, Wang Y. Platelet Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa Receptor Inhibitor Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke. Drugs. 2019 Apr;79(5):515-529. doi: 10.1007/s40265-019-01078-0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30838514 (View on PubMed)

Hilkens NA, Casolla B, Leung TW, de Leeuw FE. Stroke. Lancet. 2024 Jun 29;403(10446):2820-2836. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(24)00642-1. Epub 2024 May 14.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38759664 (View on PubMed)

Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, et al (2019) Guidelines for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke: 2019 Update to the 2018 Guidelines for the Early Management of Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Guideline for HealthcareProfessionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. https://doi.org/10.1161/STR.0000000000000211

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Berge E, Whiteley W, Audebert H, De Marchis GM, Fonseca AC, Padiglioni C, de la Ossa NP, Strbian D, Tsivgoulis G, Turc G. European Stroke Organisation (ESO) guidelines on intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke. Eur Stroke J. 2021 Mar;6(1):I-LXII. doi: 10.1177/2396987321989865. Epub 2021 Feb 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33817340 (View on PubMed)

Wang C, Yi X, Zhang B, Liao D, Lin J, Chi L. Clopidogrel plus aspirin prevents early neurologic deterioration and improves 6-month outcome in patients with acute large artery atherosclerosis stroke. Clin Appl Thromb Hemost. 2015 Jul;21(5):453-61. doi: 10.1177/1076029614551823. Epub 2014 Sep 23.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25248816 (View on PubMed)

Guo ZN, Zhang KJ, Zhang P, Qu Y, Abuduxukuer R, Nguyen TN, Chen HS, Yang Y. Early tirofiban administration after intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke (ADVENT): Study protocol of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur Stroke J. 2024 Jun;9(2):510-514. doi: 10.1177/23969873231225069. Epub 2024 Jan 9.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38196129 (View on PubMed)

Liu R, Liang Z, Li W, Zhan Y, Xu L, Yang S, Zheng G, Jiang L, Xie L, Sun Z, Hu Y. Adding Tirofiban on Top of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator May Improve Clinical Outcome in Acute Stroke Patients. J Stroke. 2024 Jan;26(1):121-124. doi: 10.5853/jos.2023.02250. Epub 2024 Jan 30. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38326710 (View on PubMed)

Liang Z, Zhang J, Huang S, Yang S, Xu L, Xiang W, Zhang M. Safety and efficacy of low-dose rt-PA with tirofiban to treat acute non-cardiogenic stroke: a single-center randomized controlled study. BMC Neurol. 2022 Jul 27;22(1):280. doi: 10.1186/s12883-022-02808-w.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35897006 (View on PubMed)

Jiao Y, Wang X, Guan Y, Wang X, Li Z, Xiang X, Zhang Z. Therapeutic Efficacy of Tirofiban Combined With Thrombus Aspiration and Stent Thrombectomy in the Treatment of Large Vessel Occlusion Ischemic Stroke. Neurologist. 2025 May 1;30(3):140-144. doi: 10.1097/NRL.0000000000000603.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 39648705 (View on PubMed)

Zhang Y, Zhang QQ, Fu C, Wang L, Zhang GQ, Cao PW, Chen GF, Fu XM. Clinical efficacy of tirofiban combined with a Solitaire stent in treating acute ischemic stroke. Braz J Med Biol Res. 2019;52(10):e8396. doi: 10.1590/1414-431X20198396. Epub 2019 Sep 16.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31531525 (View on PubMed)

Higgins JPT, Thomas J, Chandler J, et al (editors). Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions version 6.4 (updated August 2023). Cochrane, 2023. Available from www.training.cochrane.org/handbook.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

de Almeida Monteiro G, Leite M, Goncalves OR, Ferreira MY, Mutarelli A, Marinheiro G, Araujo B, Leal PRL, Ribeiro EML, Figueiredo EG, Telles JPM. Efficacy and safety of intravenous tirofiban combined with reperfusion therapy versus reperfusion therapy alone in acute ischemic stroke: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Thromb Thrombolysis. 2025 Apr;58(4):526-537. doi: 10.1007/s11239-025-03094-2. Epub 2025 Apr 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 40167884 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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2025-013

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id