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Extending the Time Window for Tenecteplase by Recanalization of Basilar Artery Occlusion in Posterior Circulation Stroke

Extending the Time Window for Tenecteplase by Effective RecanalizatioN of bAsilar Artery occLusion in Patients With POSTerior Circulation Stroke (POST-ETERNAL)

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05105633
Acronym
POST-ETERNAL
Enrollment
688
Registered
2021-11-03
Start date
2021-11-29
Completion date
2029-05-01
Last updated
2026-05-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Basilar Artery Occlusion

Keywords

ischemic stroke, basilar artery occlusion, Stroke, Tenecteplase, Tissue Plasminogen Activator, Cerebrovascular Disorders, Brain Diseases, Central Nervous System Diseases, Nervous System Diseases, Vascular Diseases, Cardiovascular Diseases, Fibrin Modulating Agents, Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action

Brief summary

Patients presenting to the emergency department with an acute ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion within 24 hours of stroke onset will be assessed to determine their eligibility for randomization into the trial. If the patient gives informed consent they will be randomised 50:50 using a central computerised allocation process to either standard of care (no intravenous thrombolytic treatment or intravenous alteplase 0.9mg/kg) or tenecteplase 0.25mg/kg before undergoing mechanical thrombectomy as required at treating clinician's discretion. The trial is Multi-arm, Multi-stage, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) design with seamless phase 2b/3 transition if the intermediate endpoint (recanalization without symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage) is met in analysis of the first 202 patients. Adaptive sample size re-estimation (Mehta and Pocock) will be performed when 240 patients have completed 3 month follow-up (minimum sample size 320, maximum sample size 688).

Detailed description

The study is a Multi-Arm Multi-Stage (MAMS), multiregional, multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded endpoint (PROBE), controlled seamless phase 2b/3 trial (2 arm with 1:1 randomisation) with adaptive sample size recalculation in patients with stroke due to basilar artery occlusion. Stage 1 will use the surrogate outcome of recanalization without symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) to establish whether proceeding to Stage 2 is warranted. If results in the first n= 202 patients meet success criteria, the trial will seamlessly convert to a phase 3 design using modified Rankin scale 0-1 at 3 months as the primary outcome (minimum n=320 with interim sample size re-estimation at n=240, maximum sample n=688) using the Mehta and Pocock conditional power method. Each regionally-based stratum will be pooled in the final analysis and analysed as a stratification by geographic region. Randomisation of patients within each stratum will be stratified by the investigator's intention to treat with mechanical thrombectomy (or not) and the investigator's intention to treat with alteplase intravenous thrombolysis should the patient be randomised to the control group (or not). Covariate adjusted minimum sufficient balance randomisation will then be applied to control for age, NIHSS and time from onset-to-randomisation (dichotomized as 0-6 hours vs 6-24 hours). The primary objective of the study is to test the hypothesis that the thrombolytic tenecteplase (TNK, 0.25mg/kg) ± mechanical thrombectomy administered within 24 hours after symptoms onset, is superior to current best practice (alteplase, rtPA, 0.9mg/kg or standard care/no lysis ± mechanical thrombectomy) in achieving excellent functional outcome (mRS 0-1) or return to the premorbid modified Rankin Scale at 90 days in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion. Estimated study duration is 5 years. Patients will participate in the trial for 12 months.

Interventions

DRUGTenecteplase

Genetically modified tissue plasminogen activator at a dose of 0.25mg/kg given as an intravenous bolus over 5-10 seconds.

Patients will receive standard care which may include intravenous alteplase at the standard licensed dose of 0.9 mg/kg up to a maximum of 90mg, 10% as a bolus and the remainder as an infusion over 1 hour.

Sponsors

University of Melbourne
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Patients will receive either intravenous tenecteplase (0.25mg/kg, maximum 25mg, administered as a bolus over 5-10 seconds) or standard of care (alteplase 0.9mg/kg or no lysis) +/- mechanical thrombectomy

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients presenting with posterior circulation ischemic stroke symptoms due to partial or complete basilar artery occlusion within 24 hours from symptom onset (or clinical deterioration/coma) or the time the patient was last known to be well. * Patient's age is ≥18 years * Presence of basilar artery occlusion, proven by CT Angiography or MR Angiography. Basilar artery occlusion is defined as 'potentially retrievable' occlusion at the basilar artery. This can be a partial or complete occlusion. * Premorbid mRS ≤3 (independent function or requiring only minor domestic assistance and able to manage alone for at least 1 week). * Local legal requirements for consent have been satisfied.

Exclusion criteria

* Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) or other diagnosis (e.g. tumour) identified by baseline imaging. * Posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT score (pc-ASPECTS) \<7 on non-contrast CT, CT Angiography source images or DWI MRI. * Significant cerebellar mass effect or acute hydrocephalus. * Established frank hypodensity on non-contrast CT indicating subacute infarction. * Bilateral extensive brainstem ischemia. * Strong suspicion of underlying intracranial atherosclerotic disease (e.g diffuse arterial calcifications, basilar stenosis) or dissection which may require immediate neuro-interventional procedure with intracranial stenting and not benefit from intravenous thrombolysis at investigator's discretion. * Pre-stroke mRS of ≥4 (indicating moderate to severe previous disability). * Other standard contraindications to intravenous thrombolysis. * Contraindication to imaging with contrast agents. * Clinically evident pregnant women. * Current participation in another research drug treatment protocol. * Known terminal illness such that the patients would not be expected to survive a year. * Planned withdrawal of care or comfort care measures. * Any condition that, in the judgment of the investigator could impose hazards to the patient if study therapy is initiated or affect the participation of the patient in the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-1 or return to baseline mRS at 90 days90 daysModified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0-1 (no disability) or return to baseline mRS (if baseline premorbid mRS 2-3) at 90 days

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Modified Rankin Scale 0-2 or return to baseline mRS at 90 days90 daysProportion of patients with Modified Rankin Scale 0-2 or return to baseline mRS at 90 days
Modified Rankin Scale 0-3 or return to baseline mRS at 90 days90 daysProportion of patients with Modified Rankin Scale 0-3 or return to baseline mRS at 90 days
Ordinal analysis of the mRS at 90 days90 daysOrdinal analysis of the mRS, merging category 5-6, at 90 days
Early clinical improvement72 hoursProportion of patients achieving early clinical improvement (reduction in acute - 72 hour NIHSS score of ≥8 or 72 hour NIHSS 0-1).
Substantial reperfusion on initial digital subtraction angiography run prior to thrombectomyInitial angiogram (day 0)Proportion of patients with complete occlusion at baseline who achieve eTICI 2b/3 on initial digital subtraction angiography run prior to thrombectomy.
Quality of Life assessment (EQ-5D) - at 90 days and 12 months90 days and 12 monthsQuality of Life assessment (EQ-5D) - at 90 days and 12 months
Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH)36 hoursProportion of patients with sICH defined as parenchymal hemorrhage type 2 (PH2), subarachnoid hemorrhage, and/or intraventricular hemorrhage within 36 of treatment, combined with a neurological deterioration of ≥4 points on the NIHSS from baseline, or leading to death.
All-cause mortality within 90 days90 daysAll-cause mortality within 90 days
Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 5-6 at 90 days90 daysProportion of patients with Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 5-6 at 90 days (severe disability or death)

Countries

Australia, Brazil, France

Contacts

CONTACTFana Alemseged, MD, PhD
Fana.Alemseged@unimelb.edu.au+6193424424
CONTACTErin White
erin.white@florey.edu.au
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBruce Campbell

University of Melbourne

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORFana Alemseged

University of Melbourne

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 7, 2026