The investigators will perform a global, Phase III, randomized, double-blind controlled
trial of rFVIIa plus best standard therapy vs. placebo and best standard therapy alone.
The investigators will include participants with a volume of ICH ≥ 2 and < 60 cc, no more
than a small volume of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) (IVH score ≤ 7), age ≥ 18 and ≤
80, Glasgow Coma Scale of ≥ 8, and treated within 120 minutes from stroke onset. To
minimize time-to-treatment, the study will use emergency research informed consent
procedures (including exception from informed consent (EFIC) in the United States) and
mobile stroke units (MSUs), with a goal of ½ of participants treated within 90 minutes,
as accomplished in the NINDS t-PA trials. The FASTEST Trial will include approximately
100 hospital sites and at least 15 MSUs in the NINDS-funded StrokeNet and key global
institutions with large volumes of ICH patients and the ability to treat them within 120
minutes of stroke onset. Recruitment of 860 participants over 3½ years is planned.
Countries participating in the trial include the United States, Canada, Japan, Germany,
Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Participants will be randomized in a double-blinded fashion to rFVIIa 80 µg/kg dose
(maximum 10 mg dose) or placebo. Participants in both arms will receive best standard
therapy as per published AHA Guidelines for ICH, including a target systolic blood
pressure of 140 mm Hg. The primary outcome (ordinal mRS with the following categories:
0-2, 3, and 4-6) will be determined at 180 days, but participants will be followed by
remote assessment at 30 days and 90 days. To measure growth of ICH, all participants will
have a standard of care baseline non-contrast CT of the head and a repeat scan at 24
hours. Centralized volumetric measurements of ICH, IVH, and edema will be performed for
both time points.
Novo Nordisk A/S will manufacture and supply rFVIIa as a research medication for use in
the FASTEST Trial. Novo Nordisk A/S will also manufacture and supply matching placebo
that is identical to rFVIIa in appearance and administration.