Intravenous Thrombolysis Combined With Tirofiban in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Summary

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.

Timeline

Start

2025-11-11

Primary completion

2026-10-30

Completion

2026-12-31

Publications

• Background 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.
• Background Powers WJ, Rabinstein AA, Ackerson T, Adeoye OM, Bambakidis NC, Becker K, Biller J, Brown M, Demaerschalk BM, Hoh B, Jauch EC, Kidwell CS, Leslie-Mazwi TM, Ovbiagele B, Scott PA, Sheth KN, Southerland AM, Summers DV, Tirschwell DL. 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 Healthcare Professionals From the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. Stroke. 2019 Dec;50(12):e344-e418. doi: 10.1161/STR.0000000000000211. Epub 2019 Oct 30.
• 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.
• Background 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.
• Background 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.
• Background 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.
• Background 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.
• Background 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.
• Background 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.
• Background 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.
• Background 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.
• 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.

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Indications