Clinical Research Directory

Intra-arterial Tenecteplase for Acute Medium Vessel Occlusion Stroke

The ANGEL-MeVO-TNK is a multicentered, prospective, randomized, open label, blinded endpoint (PROBE) phase III trial. A total of 488 AIS patients (age ≥18 years) with acute MeVO-AIS (occlusion of the M2/M3, the A1/A2/A3, the P1/P2/P3, and with baseline NIHSS score \>5 or disabling stroke with NIHSS score 3-5 \[such as neurological deficits in motor strength, language, vision, etc\]), will be enrolled. Patients fulfilling all the inclusion criteria and none of the exclusion criteria will be randomized 1:1 into the IA TNK group or the control group after offering informed content. * The IA TNK group will receive IA TNK (0.2-0.3 mg/min, for 15 -30min), be infused slowly. * The control group will be given standard medical management. The study consists of four visits including the day of randomization, 48±12 hours after randomization, and 90±7 days after randomization. Demographic information, symptoms and signs, laboratory test, neuro-imaging assessment neurological function rating scale will be recorded during the program. The primary outcome is the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0 to 1 at 90±7 days after onset. The primary safety outcome is the incidence of sICH within 48±12 hours after randomization (ECASS III).

Intra-arterial Recombinant Human Tenecteplase Tissue-type Plasminogen Activator (rhTNK-tPA) Thrombolysis for Acute Medium Vessel Occlusion

Medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) accounts for 20-45% of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Although patients with MeVO often present with relatively low NIHSS scores, up to one-third remain functionally dependent at follow-up despite receiving standard medical therapy, including intravenous thrombolysis. Recent randomized trials (DISTAL, ESCAPE-MeVO, DISCOUNT) have not demonstrated clinical benefit of endovascular treatment (EVT) for MeVO and have suggested higher risks of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and mortality, underscoring the need for safer and more targeted reperfusion strategies. Intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) enables localized, high-concentration thrombolytic delivery with minimal mechanical manipulation, which may be advantageous for medium and distal vessels. Recombinant human TNK tissue-type plasminogen activator (rhTNK-tPA), a genetically engineered third-generation thrombolytic agent, has shown favorable pharmacologic properties and clinical safety in AIS, including in intra-arterial use following EVT. However, prospective evidence supporting its direct therapeutic role in MeVO-related AIS remains lacking. This multicenter, prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial with blinded endpoint assessment is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial rhTNK-tPA thrombolysis in improving functional outcome in MeVO within 24 hours of symptom onset.

Intra-arterial Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke With Medium Vessel Occlusion

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) poses a significant clinical challenge. Recent large randomized controlled trials, DISTAL and ESCAPE-MeVO, demonstrated no significant benefit of endovascular therapy in patients with MeVO. Although intra-arterial thrombolysis has shown promise in clinical experience, robust evidence supporting its efficacy in MeVO-related AIS is still absent. To fill this gap, the RESCUE MeVO trial has been designed as a multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded end-point (PROBE) study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of intra-arterial thrombolysis in patients with AIS caused by MeVO.