ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT02427126ATTICUSUpdated Oct 13, 2021

Apixaban for Treatment of Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

A Phase 3 interventional study of Apixaban and Aspirin in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source, sponsored by University Hospital Tuebingen. Completed at 16 sites in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-10-13.

Sponsored by University Hospital Tuebingen · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
352
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Multicentre (national, Germany), randomized (2x2 factorial), open, parallel group, active controlled, efficacy study (phase III)

Read the detailed description

Based on the previous data, ATTICUS is designed as multicentre, national, parallel group, active controlled, phase III randomized (2x2 factorial), clinical trial to demonstrate the superiority of apixaban against the current standard of treatment (acetylsalicylic acid) for the longterm treatment after ESUS. ATTICUS will follow a dynamic treatment protocol implementing conversion from the acetylsalicylic acid arm to the apixaban arm in case of detection of relevant episodes of AF during the course of the study. ATTICUS is designed to test the superiority over acetylsalicylic acid to reduce new ischemic lesion detected by FLAIR/DWI MRI.

02

Conditions studied

  • Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

Browse trials for

Keywords

  • ESUS
  • anticoagulation
03

In context

Embolic Stroke

40 studies on the registry are indexed under Embolic Stroke; 11 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 352 is above the median of 197 across 13 interventional studies indexed under Embolic Stroke.

Browse Embolic Stroke studies →

Lead sponsor

University Hospital Tuebingen is the lead sponsor of 490 studies on the registry; 108 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria Must be ≥ 18 years at the time of signing the .

  • ESUS must be defined according to following criteria:

    • Stroke detected by CT or MRI that is not lacunar
    • Absence of extracranial or intracranial atherosclerosis causing ≥50% luminal stenosis in arteries supplying the area of ischaemia
    • No major-risk cardioembolic source of embolism
    • No other specific cause of stroke identified
  • * At least one of the following non-major but suggestive risk factors for cardiac embolism:

    • LA size >45mm (parasternal axis)
    • spontaneous echo contrast in LAA
    • LAA flow velocity \<=0.2m/s
    • atrial high rate episodes
    • CHA2DS2-Vasc score >=4
    • persistent foramen ovale
  • Understand and voluntarily sign an informed consent document
  • Women of (WOCBP) must be using an adequate method of .

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of to the medicinal product
  • Participation in other clinical trials or observation period of competing trials.
  • Arteria cerebri media stroke affecting > 30% of c o r r e s p o n d i n g territory
  • Diagnosis of haemorrhage or other pathology,
  • Clear indication for anticoagulation
  • Inability to control following risk factors for Hemorrhagic Transformation of fresh cerebral Infarction (HTI) during index hospital stay: presence of HTI at the time of anticoagulation, blood pressure >140 mmHg systolic, abnormal blood glucose Clear indication for dual antiplatelet therapy
  • Clear stroke-/non-stroke-indication for concomitant long-term therapy with antiplatelets (e.g. acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), Clopidogrel, or Prasugrel) or with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).
  • Concomitant systemic therapy with strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4 () and P-glycoprotein (P-gp), i.e. azole antimycotics and (HIV)-protease inhibitors.
  • to investigational medications
  • Planned or likely therapy with fibrinolytic agents within 48 hours of first study medication
  • History of intracranial, intraocular, spinal, retroperitoneal or atraumatic intra-articular bleeding
  • Gastrointestinal bleed or major surgery within 3 months
  • Planned or likely revascularization (any angioplasty or vascular surgery) within the next 3 months
  • or minor stroke induced by angiography or surgery
  • Severe non-cardiovascular comorbidity with \< 3 months
  • Severe renal failure, defined as (GFR) \<15ml/min
  • Severe hepatic insufficiency ( score B to C),
  • Active liver disease,
  • Contraindications against performance of MRI (pacemaker/ICD), previous implantation non-MRI capable protheses
  • Patients considered unreliable by the investigator, or having a life expectancy less than the expected duration of the trial
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(12)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

CYP3A (CYP3A4) inhibitors and inducers

CYP3A is a group of enzymes, mainly CYP3A4, in the liver and gut that break down many medicines. Some medicines, supplements and foods (grapefruit, St John’s wort) slow them down or speed them up, which changes how much of a study drug stays in the body.

Studies list them so they can be avoided or switched; bring a list of everything you take, including supplements.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

TIA (transient ischaemic attack)

A “mini-stroke”: temporary stroke-like symptoms caused by reduced blood flow to part of the brain, spinal cord or eye, without signs of a new stroke on a scan.

Stroke symptoms need emergency care at once, even if they go away.

Life expectancy

The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

Child-Pugh class

A score of how well the liver works in people with liver disease such as cirrhosis: class A is mild, B moderate and C severe.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
352 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Apixaban

    Apixaban 5mg b.i.d. Study treatment: 12 months Follow-up: 30 days after last study drug intake

    Drug: Apixaban

  • Active comparator
    Aspirin

    Acetylic Salicylic Acid 100mg o.d.; Study treatment: 12 months Follow-up: 30 days after last study drug intake

    Drug: Aspirin

Interventions

  • Apixaban is an oral anticoagulant currently approved for prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation, for the treatment of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, and for the prophylaxis of systemic embolism after orthopedic surgery

    Also known as: Eliquis

  • Acetylic Salicylic Acid 100mg o.d.; 12 Months

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Imaging Endpoint: Occurrence of at least one new ischemic lesion at 12 months after study drug initiation when compared to baseline MRI before study drug initiation

    The primary endpoint will be the occurrence of at least one new ischemic lesion identified by magnetic resonance imaging (axial T2-weighted fluid attenuated inversion recovery MRI (FLAIR) and/or axial diffusion weighted MRI (DWI)) at 12 months when compared to the baseline MRI (FLAIR, DWI) obtained at the time of study drug initiation. MRI at 12 months will be directly compared with the baseline MRI to assess for new ischemic lesions.

    Time frame: 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Combination of recurrent ischaemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, systemic embolism

    The occurence of ischaemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, or systemic embolism during study participation (12months) will be quantified

    Time frame: 12 months

  2. Combination of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death

    The occurence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death during study participation (12months) will be quantified

    Time frame: 12 months

  3. Combination of major and clinically relevant non-major bleedings defined according to ISTH criteria

    The occurence of major and clinically relevant non-major bleedings defined according to ISTH criteria during study participation (12months) will be quantified

    Time frame: 12 months

  4. Change of cognitive function (MOCA)

    MOCA test will be performed upon study enrollment and 12 months after enrollment and both tests will be compared

    Time frame: 12 months

  5. Life quality (EQ-5D)

    EQ-5D questionnaire will be raised upon study enrollment and 12 months after enrollment and both questionnaires will be compared

    Time frame: 12 months

07

Study locations

16 sites
  • MedicalPark Berlin Humboldtmühle GmbH & Co. KG
    Berlin, Germany
  • Neurologische Klinik, Universität Bonn
    Bonn, Germany
  • Regiomed Kliniken Coburg GmbH Abt. II
    Coburg, Germany
  • Neurologie, Klinikum Friedrichshafen GmbH
    Friedrichshafen, Germany
  • Universitätsmedizin Göttingen Abt.Innere Medizin, Klinik für Kardiologie und Pneumologie,
    Göttingen, Germany
  • Krankenhaus Martha-Maria Halle-Döhlau
    Halle, Germany
  • Klinik für Neurolgie,UKSH Campus Kiel
    Kiel, Germany
  • Klinik für Neurologie, Klinikum Ludwigsburg
    Ludwigsburg, Germany
  • Universitätsklinik für Neurologie, Magdeburg
    Magdeburg, Germany
  • Carl von Basedow KlinikumSaalekreis gGmbH
    Merseburg, Germany
  • Marienhospital Stuttgart, Klinik für Neurologie
    Stuttgart, Germany
  • Neurologische Klinik des Bürgerhospitals
    Stuttgart, Germany
  • University Hospital
    Tubingen, D72076, Germany
  • Universitäts- und Rehabilitationskliniken Ulm,Klinik für Neurologie
    Ulm, Germany
  • Schwarzwald Baar Klinikum GmbH
    Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
  • Rems-Murr-Klinikum WinnendenNeurologie
    Winnenden, Germany
08

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Dec 2015 to primary completion in Aug 2020, 56 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 20, 2015
First posted
Apr 27, 2015
StartActual
Dec 2015
Primary completionActual
Aug 2020
CompletionActual
Sep 2021
Last update
Oct 13, 2021
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 13, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02427126
Collaborators
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Medtronic, ZKS and IKEaB Tübingen
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Apr 27, 2015
Start date
Dec 2015
Primary completion
Aug 2020
Completion
Sep 2021
Last update
Oct 13, 2021

Study contacts

Tobias Geisler, Prof
principal investigator · Tübingen University Hospital
Sven Poli, Prof
principal investigator · Tübingen University Hospital
Schreieck Jürgen, Prof
principal investigator · Tübingen University Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Studies of the drug tested here: Apixaban

Start the discussion