Ticagrelor With Aspirin Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Combined With Intravenous Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke (TAPIS)

Efficacy and Safety of Ticagrelor With Aspirin Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Combined With Intravenous Thrombolysis in Patients With Ischemic Stroke (TAPIS): a Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-parallel Controlled Trial

Early antiplatelet therapy is promising for further improvement of functional prognosis on the basis of intravenous thrombolytic therapy. The primary purpose of this multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-parallel controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the early dual antiplatelet therapy (within 6 hours of onset ) of ticagrelor with aspirin combined with intravenous thrombolysis in improving good functional outcome (mRS score 0-1) at 90 days inpatients with ischemic stroke.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Ischemic Stroke, Acute
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Early Dual Antiplatelet Therapy; Drug: Placebo

Detailed Description

Theoretically, early administration of antiplatelet therapy is expected to counteract platelet aggregation during intravenous thrombolysis, improving the efficacy of intravenous thrombolysis as well as the functional prognosis. According to current evidence, mainstream guidelines clearly state that the administration of intravenous aspirin (or other antiplatelet agents) within 24 hours of Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) thrombolytic therapy is not recommended as an adjunctive treatment of intravenous thrombolysis therapy, despite the fact that rt-PA thrombolytic therapy is still acceptable for patients who have received antiplatelet therapy before the onset of stroke. Evidence from high-quality clinical trials for the routine use of oral antiplatelet drugs before and within 24 hours of intravenous thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients is quite limited. Meanwhile, trials including INSPIRES and CHANCE 2 have demonstrated that early initiation of dual antiplatelet therapy could significantly reduce the risk of recurrence and thus improve the functional prognosis without significantly increasing the risk of bleeding, providing a promising treatment for early oral antiplatelet therapy in patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis.

This trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-parallel controlled designed clinical trial. A total of 1380 patients (aged 18-80 years) who have a new diagnosed ischemic stroke (within 6 hours of onset), a NIHSS score of 4-10 points, and have received/are planned to receive intravenous thrombolysis therapy with will be enrolled from 50 centers in China. Patients will be randomly assigned into intervention (dual antiplatelet therapy of Ticagrelor and Aspirin) and control group (placebo) by the ratio of 1:1. Face to face or distance (via video or telephone) interviews will be made at baseline, 7 ± 1 days, 30 ± 3 days, 60 ± 5 days and 90 ± 7 days after randomization.

Primary outcome is defined as good functional outcomes (mRS score of 0-1 points) at 90 days. Secondary outcomes include neurologic improvement，quality of life ( quality-of-life EuroQol-5 Dimensions scale)，activity of daily living (Barthel index)，recurrent ischemic stroke. Safety outcomes, relating to antiplatelet and intravenous thrombolysis therapy (i.e., symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, parenchymal hematoma type 2, bleeding events) will also be investigated.

The Chi-square test was used to compare the proportion difference of good functional outcomes between two groups after 90 days of treatment, and the 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by using the Newcombe method. The generalized linear regression model was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) and its 95%CI. For survival outcomes, hazard ratio (HR) and 95% CI were calculated using the Cox proportional risk model.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 1382
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing Municipality
    • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
      • Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University
    • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
      • The First Hospital of Fangshan District
  • Guangdong
    • Heyuan, Guangdong, China
      • Heyuan City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
    • Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
      • The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University
  • Guangxi
    • Nanning, Guangxi, China
      • Wuming Hospital of Guangxi Medical University
    • Yulin, Guangxi, China
      • Yulin First People's Hospital
  • Hebei
    • Tangshan, Hebei, China
      • Affiliated Hospital of North China University of Science and Technology
    • Xingtai, Hebei, China
      • Qinghe people's hospital
    • Xingtai, Hebei, China
      • Linxi County People's Hospital
    • Xingtai, Hebei, China
      • Ningjin County Hospital of Hebei Province
    • Xingtai, Hebei, China
      • Renze District People's Hospital
    • Xingtai, Hebei, China
      • Xingtai Ninth Hospital
    • Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China
      • The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University
    • Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China
      • Yangyuan County People's Hospital
  • Heilongjiang
    • Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
      • The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University
  • Henan
    • Anyang, Henan, China
      • Puyang Anyang District Hospital
    • Jiaozuo, Henan, China
      • Jiaozuo People's Hospital
    • Jiaozuo, Henan, China
      • Henan Wenxian People's Hospital
    • Jiyuan, Henan, China
      • Jiyuan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
    • Kaifeng, Henan, China
      • Kaifeng Central Hospital
    • Kaifeng, Henan, China
      • Lankao County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
    • Kaifeng, Henan, China
      • Qi County Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital
    • Kaifeng, Henan, China
      • Qixian People's Hospital
    • Kaifeng, Henan, China
      • The People's Hospital of Weishi
    • Kaifeng, Henan, China
      • Xiangfu District First People's Hospital
    • Luoyang, Henan, China
      • Luoyang First People's Hospital
    • Luoyang, Henan, China
      • Luoyang Mengjin People's Hospital
    • Luoyang, Henan, China
      • Song County People's Hospital
    • Sanmenxia, Henan, China
      • Sanmenxia Hospital of the Yellow River, Affiliated to Henan University of Science and Technology
    • Shangqiu, Henan, China
      • Henan Sui County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine
    • Shangqiu, Henan, China
      • Suixian People's Hospital
    • Weishi Chengguanzhen, Henan, China
      • Weishi Central Hospital
    • Weishi Chengguanzhen, Henan, China
      • Weishi County Central Hospital
    • Xinxiang, Henan, China
      • The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University
  • Hubei
    • Wuhan, Hubei, China
      • Huangpi District People's Hospital of Wuhan City
  • Hunan
    • Changsha, Hunan, China
      • Liuyang Jili Hospital
    • Chenzhou, Hunan, China
      • Chenzhou First People's Hospital
    • Chenzhou, Hunan, China
      • Chenzhou Fourth People's Hospital
  • Inner Mongolia
    • Hinggan, Inner Mongolia, China
      • Tuquan People's Hospital
    • Hulunbuir, Inner Mongolia, China
      • Zhalantun City Hospital of Chinese and Mongolian Medicine
  • Liaoning
    • Anshan, Liaoning, China
      • Anshan Changda Hospital
    • Benxi, Liaoning, China
      • Benxi Central Hospital
    • Dalian, Liaoning, China
      • The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University
    • Dalian, Liaoning, China
      • Dalian Lvshun district people's hospital
    • Dalian, Liaoning, China
      • Dalian University Affiliated Xinhua Hospital
    • Dandong, Liaoning, China
      • Dandong Central Hospital
    • Shenyang, Liaoning, China
      • The first people's hospital of Shenyang
  • Neimenggu
    • Hohhot, Neimenggu, China
      • The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University
  • Sanmenxia
    • Henan, Sanmenxia, China
      • Lingbao First People's Hospital
  • Shandong
    • Dengzhou, Shandong, China
      • Yantai Penglai traditional Chinese medicine hospital
    • Linyi, Shandong, China
      • Linyi City People Hospital
    • Weihai, Shandong, China
      • Weihai Wendeng District People's Hospital
    • Zibo, Shandong, China
      • Zibo Municipal Hospital
  • Shanxi
    • Jinzhong, Shanxi, China
      • Yuci District People's Hospital
    • Linfen, Shanxi, China
      • Linfen Central Hospital
    • Linfen, Shanxi, China
      • Linfen People's Hospital
    • Weinan, Shanxi, China
      • Weinan Central Hospital
  • Sichuan
    • Chengdu, Sichuan, China
      • West China Hospital of Sichuan University
  • Tianjin Municipality
    • Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China
      • Tianjin Xiqing Hospital
  • Xinjiang
    • Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
      • The First Afflicted Hospital of Shihezi University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 1. 18-80 years old;

  2. Clinical diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke;

  3. Time from onset to treatment ≤6.0 hours;

  4. Having received or planning to receive intravenous thrombolytic therapy;

  5. NIHSS score of 4-10 points, and at least one of the 5th (upper limb exercise) or 6 th (lower limb exercise) scale is ≥1 point;

  6. Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• 1. Planning to receive endovascular therapy;

  2. mRS scores ≥2 points before the onset;

  3. Receiving any antiplatelet therapy after the onset;

  4. Bleeding or other pathological brain disorders, such as vascular malformations, tumors, abscesses, or other common non-ischemic brain diseases (such as multiple sclerosis), identified by CT/MRI;

  5. Pre-existing clotting disorders, systemic bleeding, thrombocytopenia, or neutropenia;

  6. Pre-existing atrial fibrillation or anticoagulant therapy (warfarin, heparin, thrombin inhibitors or factor Xa inhibitors);

  7. Hepatic or renal insufficiency (hepatic insufficiency refers to the alanine transaminase (ALT) value > 2 times the upper limit of normal value or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) times > 2 times the upper limit of normal value; renal insufficiency refers to creatinine values > 2 times the upper limit of normal value);

  8. Allergic to Ticagrelor or Aspirin or thier components and excipients;

  9. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or those with negative pregnancy test records while refusing to use effective contraceptives;

  10. Having participated investigational drugs or device tests within 30 days;

  11. Being considered inappropriate to participate by researchers.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dual Antiplatelet Therapy; This group will receive early dual antiplatelet therapy (Ticagrelor with Aspirin) combined with intravenous thrombolysis within 6 hours of the onset.	Drug: Early Dual Antiplatelet Therapy; Day 1(within 6.0 hours of onset, before or after intravenous thrombolysis) : Ticagrelor (180mg) + Aspirin (100mg), one dose; Days 2-7: Ticagrelor (90mg/time, twice/day) + open-label Aspirin (100mg/time, once/day) ; Days 8-90: open-label Aspirin (100mg/time, once/day).; Other Names: Ticagrelor and Aspirin
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; This group will receive placebo treatment (with same form and dosage) combined with intravenous thrombolysis within 6 hours of the onset.	Drug: Placebo; Day 1(within 6.0 hours of onset, before or after intravenous thrombolysis) : Placebo of Ticagrelor (180mg) + Placebo of Aspirin (100mg), one dose; Days 2-7: Placebo of Ticagrelor (90mg/time, twice/day) + open-label Aspirin (100mg/time, once/day) ; Days 8-90: open-label Aspirin (100mg/time, once/day).; Other Names: Placebo of Ticagrelor and Aspirin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Excellent functional outcome	Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-1 points; The mRS score ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating worse functional outcome.	90 days

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adverse events		90 days
Recurrent ischemic stroke		90 days
mRS score of 0-2 points	The mRS score ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating worse functional outcome.	90 days
Distribution of mRS score	The distribution of mRS score of 0 to 6 points; The mRS score ranges from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating worse functional outcome.	90 days
Neurologic improvement	NIHSS score decreasing by 4 points or more than the value at baseline; The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ranges from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating more severe neurological deficit.	7 days
Activity of daily living (Barthel index ≥95 points)	The Barthel index score ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater independence.	90 days
Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ECASS-III)		36 hours
Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (ECASS-III)		7 days
Parenchymal hematoma type 2 (SIST-MOST)		36 hours
Parenchymal hematoma type 2 (SIST-MOST)		7 days
Bleeding events (GUSTO)		90 days
Severe adverse events		90 days
Quality of life (EQ-5D scale)	The European Quality of Life 5-Dimension（EQ-5D）questionnaire for measuring generic health status. The 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) comprises five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems and extreme problems. The sum score on each of the five dimensions ranges from 5 (all domains have level 1) to 25 (all domains have level 5), with higher scores indicating worse health-related quality of life.	90 days

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Beijing Tiantan Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Yilong Wang, MD, PhD, Beijing Tiantan Hospital

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 3, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): January 5, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 12, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 12, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): March 18, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 21, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Randomized Controlled Trial; Ischemic Stroke; Clinical Trial; Antiplatelet Therapy; Multicenter Study; Double Blind Study; Intravenous Thrombolysis
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cerebrovascular Disorders; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Stroke; Ischemic Stroke; Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Nucleic Acids, Nucleotides, and Nucleosides; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Purines; Phenols; Benzene Derivatives; Nucleosides; Ribonucleosides; Salicylates; Hydroxybenzoates; Adenosine; Purine Nucleosides; Ticagrelor; Aspirin
• Other Study ID Numbers: HX-A-2023044; SF 2024-2-2045 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Capital health development research project)

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No