Intravenous rhPro-UK Before Stroke Thrombectomy in the Extended Time Window (BRIDGE-PUK EXTEND)

Xi'an Jiaotong University

Status and phase: Not yet enrolling; Phase 3

Conditions: Acute Ischemic Stroke

Treatments: Drug: Intravenous placebo; Drug: Intravenous rhPro-UK; Procedure: Endovascular thrombectomy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT07389460

BRIDGE-PUK EXTEND (Other Grant/Funding Number)

XJTU1AF2026LSYY-0065

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravenous recombinant human Prourokinase (rhPro-UK) in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion presenting 4.5-24 hours after last known well. The study will address two primary questions: 1) Whether rhPro-UK enhances pre-thrombectomy reperfusion rates and improves 90-day functional outcomes compared to placebo; 2) Whether rhPro-UK increases the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality.

Participants will be randomized to receive an intravenous bolus of rhPro-UK or matching placebo, with a total dose of 35mg (15mg administered as an intravenous push within 5 minutes, and the remaining 20mg continuously infused intravenously over 30 minutes). Key assessments include repeat neuroimaging (CT/CTA or MRI/MRA) at 24 hours post-treatment to evaluate reperfusion, NIH Stroke Scale score at day 5-7, and modified Rankin Scale score assessment at 90 days. Safety monitoring will focus on hemorrhagic transformation and mortality events throughout the study period.

Full description

This multicenter, phase III trial employs a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design to investigate the therapeutic window extension for rhPro-UK in large vessel occlusion stroke. Eligible participants are adults with large vessel occlusion confirmed by vascular imaging (CTA/MRA), and salvageable brain tissue demonstrated by perfusion imaging (CTP/MRP) mismatch. Exclusion criteria include contraindications to thrombolysis, and large core infarction (>70 mL on CTP).

Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either rhPro-UK or placebo, with a total dose of 35mg (15mg administered as an intravenous push within 5 minutes, followed by the remaining 20 mg continuously infused intravenously over 30 minutes) . All participants will undergo endovascular thrombectomy.

The primary outcome is functional independence (mRS 0-2) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes include substantial reperfusion at initial angiogram, first-pass reperfusion, final infarct volume on hour 36 CT, etc. Safety outcomes include symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage per Heidelberg Bleeding Classification criteria within 36 hours, and 90-day mortality.

Safety monitoring includes independent adjudication of hemorrhagic events and all-cause mortality. A sample size of 820 participants provides 80% power to detect a 10% absolute difference in functional independence (α=0.05).

The trial incorporates centralized blinded outcome assessment and intention-to-treat analysis, with data oversight by an independent clinical events committee and data safety monitoring board.

Enrollment: 820 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Age ≥18 years;
2. Acute ischemic stroke presenting within 4.5-24 hours of last known well;
3. No significant pre-stroke functional disability: for age <80 years, pre-stroke modified Rankin scale (mRS) ≤2; for age ≥80 years, prestroke mRS ≤1;
4. Baseline NIHSS score ≥6;
5. Imaging criteria of BOTH:

1. Occlusion on CTA/MRA in one of the following vessels: M1/M2 segment of middle cerebral artery, A1 segment of anterior cerebral artery, V4 segment of vertebral artery, basilar artery, or P1 segment of posterior cerebral artery. For A1, or P1 occlusions, vessel diameter must be ≥0.75 mm; 2. For anterior circulation occlusion: CTP/MRP demonstrating mismatch ratio ≥1.8, absolute mismatch volume ≥15 mL, and ischemic core volume <70 mL; OR have a mismatch between the presence of an abnormal signal on MRI diffusion-weighted imaging and no visible signal change on FLAIR. For posterior circulation occlusion: pc-ASPECTS score ≥6.

6. Plan to received endovascular thrombectomy; 7. The patient or their legal representative provides written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Intracranial hemorrhage confirmed by CT/MRI;
2. Onset accompanied by epileptic seizures, resulting in questionable stroke diagnosis and inability to obtain an accurate baseline NIHSS score;
3. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a positive serum β-HCG test upon admission;
4. Already received intravenous thrombolytic after index stroke;
5. History of prior intracranial hemorrhage, including cerebral parenchymal hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and subdural/extradural hematoma;
6. Active bleeding or bleeding tendency, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, urinary tract bleeding, retinal hemorrhage, etc., or presence of coagulation dysfunction;
7. History of major recent surgery or trauma, such as intracranial or spinal surgery within the past 3 months, major surgery within the past 2 weeks, or severe head trauma within the past 3 weeks;
8. Baseline blood glucose <2.8 mmol/L or >22.2 mmol/L;
9. Received low molecular weight heparin within 24 hours, or oral anticoagulants with an International Normalized Ratio (INR) >1.7, or thrombin inhibitors within 48 hours, among others;
10. Arterial tortuosity or other vascular anomalies precluding endovascular access to target vessel;
11. Pre-existing neurological/psychiatric disorders interfering with neurological assessment;
12. Space-occupying intracranial tumors (except for small meningiomas);
13. Intracranial aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation;
14. Terminal illness with life expectancy <6 months;
15. Concurrent participation in other investigation clinical trials;
16. Presence of other conditions deemed by the investigator as unsuitable for participation in the study.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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820 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

rhPro-UK group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in this group will be treated with intravenous rhPro-UK and endovascular thrombectomy

Treatment:

Procedure: Endovascular thrombectomy

Drug: Intravenous rhPro-UK

Placebo group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Patients in this group will be treated with intravenous placebo and endovascular thrombectomy

Treatment:

Procedure: Endovascular thrombectomy

Drug: Intravenous placebo