Tenecteplase versus standard medical treatment for basilar artery occlusion within 24 h (TRACE-5): a multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, superiority, phase 3 trial.
Summary
Tenecteplase versus standard medical treatment for basilar artery occlusion within 24 h (TRACE-5): a multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, superiority, phase 3 trial The Lancet 2026 Articles Tenecteplase versus standard medical treatment for basilar artery occlusion within 24 h (TRACE-5): a multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, superiority, phase 3 trial Yunyun Xiong, Fana Alemseged, Zhixin Cao, Lee H Schwamm, Si Zhang, Mark W Parsons,
Content
# Tenecteplase versus standard medical treatment for basilar artery occlusion within 24 h (TRACE-5): a multicentre, prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, superiority, phase 3 trial
*The Lancet 2026*
Articles
Tenecteplase versus standard medical treatment for basilar
artery occlusion within 24 h (TRACE-5): a multicentre,
prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint,
superiority, phase 3 trial
Yunyun Xiong*, Fana Alemseged*, Zhixin Cao, Lee H Schwamm, Si Zhang, Mark W Parsons, Marc Fisher, Yahui Hao, Aoming Jin, Jinfeng Yin,
Yong Jiang, Fengyuan Che, Lihua Wang, Li Zhou, Hongguo Dai, Yutie Zhao, Chunmiao Duan, Shuangzhe Wu, Ganghua Feng, Lixia Zong,
Wanxing Ye, Ziran Wang, Ziqi Xu, Hao Wang, Manjun Hao, Yujie Ma, Xia Meng, Hao Li, Zixiao Li, Yilong Wang, Liping Liu, Xingquan Zhao,
Bruce C V Campbell†, Yongjun Wang†, for the TRACE-5 investigators‡
Summary
Background The ecacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis with tenecteplase within 24 h after stroke onset due Lancet 2026; 407: 763–72
to basilar artery occlusion are not well studied. We aimed to assess whether intravenous tenecteplase administered Published Online
within 24 h after symptom onset improved functional outcome compared with standard medical treatment in patients February 5, 2026
with basilar artery occlusion. https://doi.org/10.1016/
S0140-6736(25)02633-9
See Comment page 734
Methods TRACE-5 was a prospective, randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, superiority, phase 3 trial conducted
*Contributed equally
at 66 stroke centres in China. We included patients aged 18 years or older with stroke due to basilar artery occlusion
†Joint senior authors
who were eligible for intravenous thrombolytics within 24 h of stroke onset or the time they were last known to be
well and had a pre-stroke modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 3 or less (scores range from 0 to 6, with higher scores ‡TRACE-5 investigators are listed
in the appendix (pp 5–7)
indicating greater disability). Patients were randomly assigned to receive a single intravenous bolus of tenecteplase
Department of Neurology,
(0·25 mg/kg; maximum 25 mg) within 24 h after symptom onset or standard medical treatment (which could include
Beijing Tiantan Hospital,
intravenous alteplase at 0·9 mg/kg, maximum 90 mg, within 4·5 h of symptom onset; anticoagulation; or Capital Medical University,
antiplatelets), with or without endovascular thrombectomy. The primary outcome was a score of 0–1 on the mRS or Beijing, China (Prof Y Xiong MD,
return to the baseline mRS score (if the baseline pre-stroke mRS score was 2–3) at 90 days. Safety outcomes were Z Cao MD, S Wu MD, L Zong MD,
M Hao MD, Y Ma MD,
symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and death. The primary outcome and safety outcomes were assessed in all
Prof Z Li MD, Prof Yi Wang MD,
randomly assigned participants included in their originally assigned groups. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials. Prof L Liu MD, Prof X Zhao MD,
gov, NCT06196320. Prof Yo Wang MD); Department
of Neurology, Royal Melbourne
Hospital, University of
Findings Between Jan 24, 2024, and June 20, 2025, 452 patients were enrolled (mean age 66·4 years [SD 11·2],
Melbourne, Parkville, VIC,
321 [71%] males, and 131 [29%] females), of whom 222 (49%) subsequently underwent thrombectomy; 221 were randomly Australia (F Alemseged MD,
assigned to receive tenecteplase and 231 to receive standard medical treatment. Alteplase was used in 80 (35%) of the Prof B C V Campbell PhD);
patients in the standard medical treatment group. An mRS score of 0–1 or return to the baseline mRS score occurred in Department of Neurology, Yale
School of Medicine, New
83 (38%) patients in the tenecteplase group and 66 (29%) patients in the standard medical treatment group (adjusted
Haven, CT, USA
relative rate 1·50 [95% CI 1·09–2·08], p=0·014). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage within 36 h occurred in (Prof L H Schwamm MD);
four (2%) patients in the tenecteplase group and seven (3%) patients in the standard medical treatment group (adjusted Department of Clinical
relative rate 0·58 [95% CI 0·17–1·99]). All-cause mortality at 90 days was similar between groups (65 [29%] patients in Research Centre, Chinese
Stroke Association, Beijing,
the tenecteplase group and 71 [31%] patients in the standard medical treatment group; adjusted relative rate 0·87 [95% CI
China (S Zhang BEng,
0·62–1·22]), as was the proportion of patients with an mRS score of 5–6 at 90 days (82 [37%] vs 89 [39%]; 0·87 [0·65–1·18]). Y Hao BSc); Department of
Neurology, Liverpool Hospital,
Interpretation In this trial involving Chinese patients with ischaemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion, University of New South Wales,
Sydney, NSW, Australia
tenecteplase within 24 h after stroke onset improved functional outcome compared with standard medical treatment.
(Prof M W Parsons PhD);
The incidence of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and death was similar. Department of Neurology,
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical
Funding Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project, Beijing Municipal Centre, Harvard Medical
School, Boston, MA, USA
Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and China
(Prof M Fisher MD); China
Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Company Recomgen Pharmaceutical (Guangzhou). National Clinical Research
Centre for Neurological
Diseases, Beijing Tiantan
Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar
Hospital, Beijing, China
technologies.
(Prof Y Xiong, A Jin PhD,
J Yin PhD, Y Jiang PhD, W Ye PhD,
Introduction of disability and mortality (up to 80–90%) if recanalisation Prof X Meng MD, H Li PhD,
Prof Yi Wang, Prof L Liu,
Basilar artery occlusion is a rare but devastating subtype does not occur.1,2 An individual patient data meta-analysis
Prof Yo Wang); Department of
of large-vessel occlusion ischaemic stroke with high rates of four randomised controlled trials supports the robust
Neurology, Linyi People’s
Articles
Hospital, Linyi, China
Research in context
(Prof F Che MD, Z Wang MD,
H Wang MD); Department of
Evidence before this study patients with mild strokes, did not require basilar artery
Neurology, Second Affiliated
Hospital of Harbin Medical Endovascular thrombectomy is established as an effective occlusion, and excluded patients intended for thrombectomy.
University, Harbin, China treatment for basilar artery occlusion within 24 h of stroke
Added value of this study
(Prof L Wang MD); Department onset according to four phase 3 randomised controlled trials.
of Neurology, Weifang People’s TRACE-5 is the first phase 3 trial to compare tenecteplase with
However, access to endovascular thrombectomy remains
Hospital, Weifang, China standard medical treatment in patients with basilar artery
(L Zhou MD); Department of limited worldwide, particularly in low-income and middle-
occlusion presenting within 24 h of symptom onset. Our
Emergency, Linfen Central income countries. As the first-line therapy for ischaemic stroke
Hospital, Linfen, China within 4·5 h, intravenous thrombolysis is widely used and findings showed that tenecteplase administered within 24 h of
(H Dai MD); Department of symptom onset improved excellent functional outcomes
might offer additional benefits for patients with basilar artery
Emergency, Puyang Oilfield without increased safety concerns for patients with basilar
General Hospital, Puyang, occlusion presenting within 24 h after onset, especially with the
artery occlusion. This pragmatic trial allowed the use of
China (Y Zhao MD); use of the newer-generation thrombolytic, tenecteplase.
Department of Neurology, We searched PubMed and MEDLINE for randomised trials alteplase in the control group and thrombectomy in both
Daxing Teaching Hospital, groups, closely reflecting real-world clinical practice.
published between Jan 1, 2000, and Oct 31, 2025, using the
Capital Medical University,
Beijing, China (C Duan MD); terms “tenecteplase”, “basilar artery occlusion”, and “study” or Implications of all the available evidence
Department of Neurology, First “clinical trial”. To date, no phase 3 randomised controlled trial The TRACE-5 trial supports tenecteplase as an effective option for
People’s Hospital of Chenzhou, has been published evaluating the efficacy and safety of treating basilar artery occlusion within 24 h, both in centres that
Chenzhou, China (G Feng MD);
tenecteplase in patients with confirmed basilar artery occlusion can provide endovascular thrombectomy and those that cannot.
Department of Neurology, First
Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang within 24 h of symptom onset. One phase 3 trial compared Using single-bolus tenecteplase to complement endovascular
University School of Medicine, alteplase with control, administered between 4·5 h and 24 h in thrombectomy without advanced imaging for patient selection
Hangzhou, China (Z Xu MD);
patients with posterior circulation stroke, but it mainly included enhances its feasibility for future implementation.
Advanced Innovation Centre
for Human Brain Protection,
Beijing Tiantan Hospital,
Beijing, China (Prof Yo Wang); benefit of endovascular thrombectomy for basilar artery endovascular thrombectomy versus alteplase in basilar
Research Unit of Artificial occlusion within 24 h of stroke onset.3–7 However, artery occlusion, potentially oering additional benefit
Intelligence in Cerebrovascular
immediate access to endovascular thrombectomy is for these patients.16,17
Disease, Chinese Academy of
currently limited, with a median global thrombectomy The Tenecteplase Reperfusion Therapy in Acute
Medical Sciences, Beijing
(Prof Yo Wang) access rate of about 3% and access rates of less than Ischaemic Cerebrovascular Events-5 (TRACE-5) trial was
Correspondence to: 1% in 27% of countries.8,9 Therefore, intravenous designed to test whether intravenous tenecteplase at a
Prof Yongjun Wang, Department thrombolytic therapies within 4·5 h of onset remain the dose of 0·25 mg per kilogram of bodyweight,
of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan
standard of care in basilar artery occlusion, particularly administered within 24 h after symptom onset, improved
Hospital, Capital Medical
in patients who initially present to stroke centres without functional outcome compared with standard medical
University, Beijing 100070, China
yongjunwang@ncrcnd.org.cn the capacity to perform endovascular thrombectomy.10,11 treatment in patients with basilar artery occlusion. The
or Given the dismal prognosis of basilar artery occlusion, use of endovascular thrombectomy was at the discretion
Prof Bruce C V Campbell, further research on whether the time window for of the treating physician.
Department of Neurology, Royal intravenous thrombolysis can be extended up to 24 h is
Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, warranted. Methods
VIC 3050, Australia
A previous trial showed the possibility of extending the Study design and participants
bruce.campbell@mh.org.au
time window for intravenous thrombolysis to 24 h in TRACE-5 was a prospective, randomised, open-label,
See Online for appendix
patients with posterior circulation stroke using alteplase.12 blinded-endpoint, superiority, phase 3 trial conducted at
However, the trial population primarily included patients 66 stroke centres in China. The trial included patients
with mild strokes, basilar artery occlusion was not with acute ischaemic stroke due to basilar artery
required, and those scheduled for thrombectomy were occlusion who were aged 18 years or older and eligible for
excluded. Therefore, evidence for thrombolytics, with or intravenous thrombolytics within 24 h of stroke onset or
without endovascular thrombectomy, in the extended the time they were last known to be well. Basilar artery
time window for patients with basilar artery occlusion is occlusion was defined as a potentially retrievable
scarce. Tenecteplase, a modified form of human tissue occlusion of the basilar artery, which could be a near
plasminogen activator with higher fibrin specificity and (defined as 99% stenosis with string sign) or complete
longer half-life,11 was shown to be non-inferior to alteplase occlusion of the basilar artery on CT angiography (CTA)
in randomised trials and even superior to alteplase by a or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). There was
study-level meta-analysis,13 and proven to be eective for no restriction on the National Institutes of Health Stroke
anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion in patients not Scale (NIHSS) score (which ranges from 0 to 42, with
receiving endovascular thrombectomy within 24 h after higher scores representing increased neurological
onset with a numerically higher rate of symptomatic deficits). Eligible patients had a pre-stroke modified
intracranial haemorrhage.14,15 Tenecteplase was also Rankin scale (mRS) score of 3 or less (scores range from
associated with increased reperfusion before 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability).
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Patients were ineligible if there was an intracranial on clinician judgement. Other management for
haemorrhage or other diagnosis (eg, brain tumour) endovascular thrombectomy patients adhered to the
identified by baseline imaging; posterior circulation Chinese Guideline for Endovascular Treatment of Acute
Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS)18 Ischemic Stroke 2023,21 which recommends endovascular
of less than 6 (scores range from 0 [extensive ischaemia, thrombectomy for acute basilar artery occlusion within
poor prognosis] to 10 [no ischaemia, excellent prognosis]19) 12 h of onset if the inclusion criteria of the Endovascular
on diusion weighted imaging or non-contrast CT or Treatment for Acute Basilar-Artery Occlusion
CTA source images; significant cerebellar mass eect or (ATTENTION)6 and Basilar Artery Occlusion Chinese
acute hydrocephalus; established frank hypodensity on Endovascular (BAOCHE)7 trials are met (class I; level of
non-contrast CT indicating subacute infarction; or evidence A). For acute basilar artery occlusion,
bilateral extensive brainstem ischaemia. The complete endovascular thrombectomy within 12–24 h of onset is
list of eligibility criteria is provided in the appendix ( p 9). recommended if the BAOCHE inclusion criteria are met
The trial adhered to the principles outlined in the (class IIa; level of evidence B).
Declaration of Helsinki and complied with the All outcome assessments were conducted by certified
International Council for Harmonization Guidelines for clinicians masked to treatment allocation and trained in
Good Clinical Practice. The study was approved by the their administration at each participating site. The
ethics committee of Beijing Tiantan Hospital screening log systematically captured demographic data,
(KY2023-227-02). There was no patient or public medical history, concomitant medications, laboratory
involvement in the study design, conduct, and reporting. parameters, neurological evaluations (including mRS
Before participant enrolment, the trial protocol received and NIHSS scores), and imaging findings. Non-contrast
approval from the institutional review board of each CT or MRI at 24–36 h post intervention evaluated
participating site and was subsequently published.20 All intracranial haemorrhage, and 90-day mRS scores were
of the enrolled patients or their legally authorised determined through in-person visits or structured
representatives provided written informed consent. This telephone interviews.
trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06196320. Study monitoring was managed by the TRACE-5
Coordinating Centre. Monitors conducted on-site visits
Randomisation and masking to verify protocol compliance by auditing study records,
Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to intravenous cross-referencing source documentation, and engaging
tenecteplase or standard medical treatment with the with investigators to assess trial conduct. Monitors were
Central Interactive Management System for Clinical tasked with ensuring protocol adherence and verifying
Research, which is a secure, Good Clinical Practice- accurate completion of electronic case report forms.
compliant electronic web-based server that robustly
preserves allocation concealment. The randomisation Outcomes
system used computer-generated allocation sequences, The primary outcome, which was chosen on the basis of
stratified by the investigator’s intention for endovascular precedent in previous thrombolytic trials, was the
thrombectomy and intention for intravenous alteplase (if proportion of participants with no disability (defined as
randomly assigned to standard medical treatment), and an mRS score of 0–1) or return to the baseline mRS score
using covariate-adjusted minimisation to balance age at 90 days (if the baseline pre-stroke mRS score was 2–3).
(≤70 years vs >70 years), NIHSS score (<10 vs ≥10), and Secondary outcomes were the proportion of participants
time from onset to randomisation (<6 h vs 6–24 h). with functional independence (defined as an mRS score
Qualified physicians and members of the Endpoint of 0–2) or return to the baseline mRS score at 90 days,
Adjudication Committee, who were masked to treatment the proportion of patients with an mRS score of 0–3 at
allocation, independently conducted study outcome 90 days, the ordinal distribution of mRS scores at 90 days
assessments and endpoint event adjudication, (scores 5–6 were combined to avoid counting a shift from
respectively. death [mRS score of 6] to severe disability requiring
constant nursing care [mRS score of 5] as a treatment
Procedures success), the proportion of patients with early clinical
Immediately after randomisation, the intervention group improvement (reduction in acute 72 h NIHSS score of ≥8
received tenecteplase as a single intravenous bolus over points compared with the baseline score or 72 h NIHSS
5–10 s, dosed at 0·25 mg/kg (maximum 25 mg). The score of 0–1), and the proportion of patients with
standard medical treatment group could receive complete occlusion at baseline who reached an expanded
intravenous alteplase (0·9 mg/kg, maximum 90 mg; Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction22 grade of 2B–3 on
starting with an initial bolus of 10% of the total dose, initial digital subtraction angiography run before
followed by continuous infusion of the remaining 90% thrombectomy (grades range from 0 [no reperfusion] to 3
over 60 min) within 4·5 h of stroke onset, anticoagulation, [complete reperfusion]).
such as heparin infusion, or antiplatelets as per standard Safety outcomes were symptomatic intracranial
care, with or without endovascular thrombectomy based haemorrhage within 36 h (defined according to the Safe
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Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-Monitoring central review of all brain imaging performed during
Study criteria as local or remote parenchymal admission).
haemorrhage type 2, combined with a neurological The data and safety monitoring board monitored safety
deterioration of ≥4 NIHSS points, or leading to death),23 outcomes after the first 50 patients were enrolled and
all-cause mortality within 90 days, and the proportion of every subsequent 100 patients. Severe adverse events
patients with an mRS score of 5–6 at 90 days. Adverse within 90 days were also recorded.
eects were systematically assessed at 24 h, 7 days or
discharge, and 90 days from randomisation (including Statistical analysis
On the basis of previous studies,6,7,17,24 the sample size of
452 patients provided 80% power to detect a
12% dierence in the proportions of patients reaching an
1043 patients underwent screening
mRS score of 0–1 (33% intervention vs 21% control),
assuming a one-sided alpha level of 0·025, an attrition
591 excluded rate of 5%, and a 3-month follow-up period. No interim
330 did not meet inclusion criteria
analyses were planned or performed.
249 no near or complete basilar artery occlusion
69 no consent obtained Analyses, including safety, adhered to the intention-to-
12 time from onset to randomisation >24 h
treat principle, with all randomly assigned participants
261 met exclusion criteria
70 both anterior and posterior circulation included in their originally assigned groups. Per-protocol
large-vessel occlusion analysis was performed in the per-protocol population,
64 pc-ASPECTS <6
39 contraindications to intravenous thrombolysis which comprised all participants who completed the
28 established frank hypodensity on non-contrast CT assigned interventions as required and in whom there
22 bilateral extensive brainstem ischaemia
were no major violations of the trial protocol. Major
17 based on investigator judgement
10 already received thrombolysis violations defined during data audit included substantial
5 already received endovascular therapy deviation from inclusion or exclusion criteria, use of
2 already received tirofiban or batroxobin
9 significant cerebellar mass effect or acute disallowed concomitant treatments that seriously
hydrocephalus interfere with ecacy assessment after inclusion,
6 intracranial haemorrhage or tumour
substantial non-compliance with the assigned treatment
1 contraindication to imaging with contrast agents
1 pre-stroke mRS score ≥4 regimen, excessive delay in drug administration, or non-
1 a clinically evident pregnancy
adherence to the scheduled follow-up windows.
1 current participation in other interventional trial
1 previously enrolled in TRACE-5 Per-protocol analysis was prespecified and considered as
1 not expected to survive a year a secondary population for ecacy analysis. Outcomes
and statistical analyses were prospectively predefined as
primary, secondary, or exploratory in the trial protocol.
452 randomly assigned
Treatment eect estimates are reported as point estimates
with corresponding 95% CIs. Descriptive statistics
(means and SDs, medians and IQRs, and numbers and
221 assigned to tenecteplase and included 231 assigned to standard medical proportions) were computed for all study variables,
in intention-to-treat population treatment and included in intention-
including baseline characteristics and outcome
to-treat population
measures. We did not have missing data for the primary
or secondary outcomes.
221 included in safety population 231 included in safety population A prespecified statistical analysis plan was finalised
before database lock. The primary outcome and
11 excluded 29 excluded dichotomous secondary outcomes were analysed using
6 enrolled inappropriately 5 enrolled inappropriately modified Poisson regression with robust SE25 adjusted
4 crossover to standard medical 4 crossover to tenecteplase
for age, baseline NIHSS score, and onset-to-
treatment group group
1 follow-up visits outside the 16 alteplase outside 4·5 h time randomisation time (dichotomised as <6 h vs 6–24 h).
predefined time window window Treatment eects were expressed as adjusted relative
1 thrombolytic drug dose <80%
standard dose rates accompanied by 95% CIs. Ordinal analysis of
1 follow-up visits outside the 90-day mRS outcomes, merging scores 5 and 6, used
predefined time window
ordinal logistic regression, adjusted for the same
2 used contraindicated
medications within 24 h after covariates, contingent on validation of the proportional
thrombolytic therapy
odds assumption.
Prespecified subgroups included age (≤70 years
210 included in per-protocol population 202 included in per-protocol population vs >70 years), sex (male vs female), baseline severity of
stroke (NIHSS score <10 vs ≥10), pc-ASPECTS (≤7 vs 8–10),
intention for intravenous alteplase (yes vs no), intention
Figure 1: Trial profile
mRS=modified Rankin scale. pc-ASPECTS=posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score. for endovascular thrombectomy (yes vs no), early (≤60 min
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after randomisation) versus delayed (>60 min after
Tenecteplase group Standard medical
randomisation) endovascular thrombectomy versus no
(n=221) treatment group
endovascular thrombectomy, time from stroke onset to (n=231)
randomisation (<6 h vs 6–24 h vs wake-up stroke), pre-
Age, years 66·5 (10·9) 66·2 (11·6)
stroke mRS score (0–1 vs 2–3), glucose concentration
Sex
(<7·8 mmol/L vs ≥7·8 mmol/L), site of basilar artery
Male 159 (72%) 162 (70%)
occlusion (distal vs mid vs proximal), stroke mechanism
Female 62 (28%) 69 (30%)
by Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST)
Hypertension 165 (75%) 170 (74%)
classification (cardioembolic stroke vs embolic stroke of
Diabetes 55 (25%) 58 (25%)
undetermined source vs atherothrombotic stroke), Basilar
Atrial fibrillation 16 (7%) 21 (9%)
Artery Tomography Angiography (BATMAN) score on
mRS score before stroke*
baseline CTA (<7 vs ≥7, scores range from 0 [extensive
0–1 211 (95%) 220 (95%)
thrombus in the basilar artery, poor collaterals] to 10 [no
2–3 10 (5%) 11 (5%)
thrombus in the basilar artery, robust collaterals]),26 and
Baseline NIHSS score† 13 (7–25) 11 (6–21)
Posterior Circulation Collateral Score (PC-CS) on baseline
<10 86 (39%) 99 (43%)
CTA (0–3 vs 4–5 vs ≥6; PC-CS scores range from 0 [no
≥10 135 (61%) 132 (57%)
collateral flow] to 10 [robust collateral circulation]).27
Basilar artery occlusion‡
Unadjusted ecacy and safety analyses were performed
as post-hoc analyses in the intention-to-treat and per- Complete occlusion 208/218 (95%) 220/230 (96%)
protocol populations. We also did a post-hoc sensitivity Near-complete occlusion 10/218 (5%) 10/230 (4%)
analysis of ecacy and safety outcomes, including Basilar artery occlusion site
adjustment for patient or family refusal to consent for Proximal 126/218 (58%) 125/230 (54%)
endovascular thrombectomy, along with additional Mid 64/218 (29%) 74/230 (32%)
endovascular thrombectomy characteristics, recanali- Distal 28/218 (13%) 31/230 (13%)
sation at end of procedure, haemorrhagic transformation pc-ASPECTS§ 8 (6–8) 8 (7–8)
classifications, and exploratory post-hoc subgroup ≤7 91 (41%) 88 (38%)
analysis stratified by imaging modality (CT vs MRI). 8–10 130 (59%) 143 (62%)
Significance was defined as two-sided p value of less TOAST classification
than 0·05. No adjustment for multiple testing was made, Large-artery atherosclerosis 191 (86%) 190 (82%)
and CIs for secondary outcomes and subgroups should Cardioembolism 29 (13%) 40 (17%)
not be used for hypothesis testing. Embolic stroke of undetermined source 1 (<1%) 1 (<1%)
Analyses were conducted with SAS software Time from symptom onset to randomisation, h 6·1 (3·8–11·3) 6·5 (3·4–11·6)
(version 9.4). <4·5 70 (32%) 85 (37%)
4·5–24 113 (51%) 102 (44%)
Role of the funding source Wake-up stroke 38 (17%) 44 (19%)
The funders of the study had no role in study design, Intravenous alteplase¶ 1 (<1%) 80 (35%)
data collection, data analysis, data interpretation, or Intention at time of randomisation to perform 130 (59%) 125 (54%)
writing of the report. No confidentiality agreements endovascular thrombectomy
existed between the manufacturer and investigators, and Endovascular thrombectomy 112 (51%) 110 (48%)
the manufacturer had no authority to delay or restrict
Data are mean (SD), n (%), or median (IQR). mRS=modified Rankin scale. NIHSS=National Institutes of Health Stroke
publication of trial findings. Scale. pc-ASPECTS=posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score. TOAST=Trial of Org 10172 in Acute
Stroke Treatment. *Scores on the mRS range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability. †Scores on
Results the NIHSS range from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating a greater deficit. ‡Four patients did not have near-
complete or complete basilar artery occlusion on core laboratory assessment. §Scores on the pc-ASPECTS were
Between Jan 24, 2024, and June 20, 2025, 1043 patients assessed on baseline CT angiography source images, non-contrast CT brain images, or diffusion weighted imaging,
were screened across sites. Following eligibility ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating fewer early ischaemic changes. ¶Four patients assigned to
tenecteplase crossed over to control (one received alteplase and three received no intravenous thrombolysis) but were
assessment, 452 qualified for study inclusion, and
analysed in the tenecteplase group as per the intention-to-treat principle.
221 patients were randomly assigned to the tenecteplase
group and 231 to the standard medical treatment group Table 1: Baseline characteristics
(figure 1). Protocol non-adherence was recorded in
40 (9%) patients, including crossover, alteplase use
beyond 4·5 h, and inappropriate enrolment (figure 1). thrombolytic to arterial puncture for the 222 (49%) patients
Baseline characteristics are shown in table 1 and the receiving endovascular thrombectomy was 45 min
appendix (pp 11–12). Mean age was 66·4 years (SD 11·2); (IQR 25–80). The reasons for not proceeding with
321 (71%) patients were male and 131 (29%) were female. endovascular thrombectomy in the study overall and in the
The median baseline NIHSS score was 12 (IQR 7–23). The subgroup in whom endovascular thrombectomy was
median interval from symptom onset to randomisation intended at the time of randomisation are shown in the
was 6·4 h (IQR 3·7–11·5). The median interval from appendix (pp 13–14). Alteplase was used in
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Tenecteplase group Standard medical Adjusted effect size* p value
(n=221) treatment group (95% CI)†
(n=231)
Primary outcome
mRS score 0–1 or return to baseline mRS score at 90 days‡ 83 (38%) 66 (29%) 1·50 (1·09–2·08) 0·014
Secondary outcomes
mRS score of 0–2 or return to baseline mRS score at 90 days 98 (44%) 99 (43%) 1·16 (0·88–1·54) 0·29
mRS score of 0–3 at 90 days 114 (52%) 123 (53%) 1·06 (0·82–1·37) 0·66
Ordinal distribution of mRS scores at 90 days ·· ·· 1·51 (1·06–2·15) 0·022
0 36 (16%) 30 (13%) ·· ··
1 43 (19%) 34 (15%) ·· ··
2 17 (8%) 34 (15%) ·· ··
3 18 (8%) 25 (11%) ·· ··
4 25 (11%) 19 (8%) ·· ··
5–6§ 82 (37%) 89 (39%) ·· ··
Early clinical improvement¶ 65 (29%) 64 (28%) 1·08 (0·76–1·52) 0·68
Substantial reperfusion at initial angiogram|| 34/141 (24%) 16/126 (13%) 1·90 (1·04–3·49) 0·038
Safety outcomes
Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage within 36 h** 4 (2%) 7 (3%) 0·58 (0·17–1·99) 0·39
All-cause mortality within 90 days 65 (29%) 71 (31%) 0·87 (0·62–1·22) 0·41
mRS score 5–6 at 90 days 82 (37%) 89 (39%) 0·87 (0·65–1·18) 0·38
Data are n (%) or n/N (%) unless otherwise stated. mRS=modified Rankin scale. NIHSS=National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. *The common odds ratio is shown for the
ordinal score on the mRS, and the relative rate is shown for other outcomes. †The primary, secondary, and safety outcomes were adjusted for age, baseline NIHSS score, and
onset-to-randomisation time (dichotomised as <6 h vs 6–24 h). ‡Scores on the mRS range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability; the primary outcome
also included patients who returned to their baseline mRS score (if the baseline pre-stroke mRS score was 2–3) at 90 days. §mRS scores 5–6 were prespecified to be merged in
ordinal analysis to avoid counting a shift from death (mRS score 6) to severe disability requiring constant nursing care (mRS score 5) as a treatment success. ¶Early clinical
improvement defined by a reduction on NIHSS score of ≥8 compared with the initial deficit or a score of 0–1 at 72 h. ||Proportion of patients with complete occlusion at
baseline who reached the expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction grade of 2B–3 (reperfusion of ≥50% of the affected territory) on initial digital subtraction angiography
run before thrombectomy. Two patients did not go for digital subtraction angiography due to significant improvement of NIHSS scores, and repeated CT angiography
showed complete recanalisation of occlusion (Arterial Occlusive Lesion score of 3). **Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage within 36 h (defined as local or remote
parenchymal haemorrhage type 2, combined with a neurological deterioration of ≥4 NIHSS points, or leading to death).
Table 2: Efficacy and safety outcomes
figure 2). In patients with a pre-stroke mRS score of 2–3,
four (40%) of ten in the tenecteplase group
versus two (18%) of 11 in the standard medical treatment
Standard medical group returned to their baseline mRS scores. Secondary
treatment group 13% 15% 15% 11% 8% 8% 31%
outcome measures and safety data are shown in table 2.
(n=231)
The proportional odds assumption for ordinal logistic
Tenecteplase regression (scores 5 and 6 were combined) was satisfied
group 16% 19% 8% 8% 11% 8% 29% based on the Brandt test (p=0·40). Stratified subgroup
(n=221)
evaluations of treatment eects on the primary endpoint
0 25 50 75 100 are shown in figure 3. Results in the per-protocol analysis
were aligned with those of the primary intention-to-treat
Figure 2: Distribution of scores on the mRS at 90 days in the intention-to-treat population analysis (appendix pp 15–16, 26). The appendix shows
Scores on the modified Rankin scale range from 0 to 6, with 0 indicating no symptoms, 1 indicting symptomatic post-hoc ecacy and safety outcomes using unadjusted
but not disabled, 2 indicating disabled but independent, 3 indicating dependent but ambulatory, 4 indicating not analyses in the intention-to-treat and per-protocol
ambulatory or capable of body self-care, 5 indicating requiring constant nursing care, and 6 indicating death.
analysis (pp 17–20) and post-hoc analysis including an
Percentages might not total 100 because of rounding. mRS=modified Rankin scale.
additional adjustment for patient or family refusal to
80 (35%) of 231 patients in the standard medical treatment consent to endovascular thrombectomy (pp 21–22).
group. The appendix (p 23) shows post-hoc endovascular
The primary endpoint of no disability (mRS score 0–1) thrombectomy procedural characteristics, including final
or return to the baseline mRS score at the 90-day recanalisation. Post-hoc exploratory subgroup analysis
follow-up was reached in 83 (38%) of 221 patients in the stratified by imaging modality is provided in the appendix
tenecteplase group versus 66 (29%) of 231 patients in the (p 27).
standard medical treatment group (adjusted relative Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage within 36 h
rate 1·50 [95% CI 1·09–2·08]; two-tailed p=0·014; table 2; post randomisation occurred in four (2%) of 221 patients
768
puorG
mRS score
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Proportion of patients (%)
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Tenecteplase Standard medical Relative rate p
interaction
group treatment group (95% CI)
Age (years) 0·98
≤70 54/132 42/136 1·47 (0·98–2·20)
>70 29/89 24/95 1·51 (0·87–2·61)
Sex 0·49
Male 58/159 49/162 1·39 (0·94–2·04)
Female 25/62 17/69 1·72 (0·92–3·24)
NIHSS score* 0·74
<10 53/86 47/99 1·32 (0·89–1·97)
≥10 30/135 19/132 1·50 (0·84–2·67)
pc-ASPECTS† 0·80
≤7 29/91 20/88 1·60 (0·90–2·84)
8–10 54/130 46/143 1·42 (0·95–2·12)
Intention for intravenous alteplase 0·74
Yes 28/83 28/95 1·36 (0·80–2·32)
No 55/138 38/136 1·56 (1·03–2·36)
Intention for endovascular thrombectomy 0·58
Yes 42/130 37/125 1·34 (0·86–2·10)
No 41/91 29/106 1·68 (1·04–2·72)
Timing of endovascular thrombectomy 0·88
Early (≤60 min after randomisation) 19/67 18/66 1·24 (0·64–2·41)
Delayed (>60 min after randomisation) 16/45 15/44 1·50 (0·71–3·18)
None 48/109 33/121 1·63 (1·04–2·54)
Time from stroke onset to randomisation, h 0·08
<6 35/104 38/110 1·16 (0·73–1·85)
6–24 40/79 16/77 2·51 (1·40–4·50)
Wake-up stroke 8/38 12/44 0·96 (0·37–2·47)
Pre-stroke mRS score‡ 0·57
0–1 79/211 64/220 1·48 (1·06–2·06)
2–3 4/10 2/11 6·93 (0·38–126·23)
Baseline glucose concentration, mmol/L 0·33
<7·8 42/99 36/111 1·35 (0·86–2·12)
≥7·8 34/97 21/92 2·02 (1·16–3·51)
Occlusion site 0·77
Proximal 46/126 38/125 1·40 (0·91–2·16)
Mid 27/64 24/74 1·61 (0·90–2·86)
Distal 7/28 4/31 2·99 (0·78–11·44)
Stroke mechanism by TOAST classification 0·91
Cardioembolic 10/29 8/40 2·03 (0·77–5·38)
ESUS 0/1 1/1 ··
Atherothrombotic 73/191 57/190 1·46 (1·03–2·08)
BATMAN score§ 0·49
<7 26/74 15/75 1·97 (1·03–3·73)
≥7 5/13 2/18 4·32 (0·74–25·21)
PC-CS¶ 0·59
0–3 3/21 4/30 1·32 (0·27–6·31)
4–5 16/34 8/30 1·99 (0·82–4·80)
≥6 8/16 2/13 5·70 (0·96–33·83)
Overall 83/221 66/231 1·50 (1·09–2·08)
0·5 1·0 2·0 4·0 6·0 8·0 10·0
Favours standard medical treatment Favours tenecteplase
Figure 3: Subgroup analyses for the primary outcome of mRS score of 0–1 or return to baseline mRS score at 90 days
BATMAN=Basilar Artery Tomography Angiography. ESUS=embolic stroke of undetermined source. mRS=modified Rankin scale. NIHSS=National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale.
pc-ASPECTS=posterior circulation Acute Stroke Prognosis Early CT Score. PC-CS=Posterior Circulation Collateral Score. TOAST=Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment. *Scores on the NIHSS range
from 0 to 42, with higher scores indicating greater deficit. †The pc-ASPECTS was determined by use of baseline CT angiogram source images, non-contrast CT brain images, or diffusion weighted
imaging, and ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating fewer early ischaemic changes. ‡Scores on the mRS range from 0 to 6, with higher scores indicating greater disability. §BATMAN scores
were evaluated on baseline CT angiography, ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better vascular perfusion and collateral circulation. ¶The PC-CS was calculated on baseline CT
angiography, ranging from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating better collateral blood flow.
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in the tenecteplase group versus seven (3%) of 231 patients endovascular thrombectomy is not available or aordable,
in the standard medical treatment group (adjusted including low-income countries. The 2024 European
relative rate 0·58 [95% CI 0·17–1·99]; table 2). Among Stroke Organisation and European Society of Minimally
the seven patients in the standard medical treatment Invasive Neurological Therapy guidelines for the acute
group, all had endovascular thrombectomy; one had management of basilar artery occlusion explicitly
alteplase before endovascular thrombectomy and two had recommended extending the intravenous thrombolysis
complications during endovascular thrombectomy window in basilar artery occlusion up to 24 h, although
(vessel perforation). Post-hoc haemorrhagic trans- this recommendation was based on expert consensus
formation classifications are listed in the appendix (p 24). rather than randomised evidence.16
All-cause mortality at 90 days was similar between The safety profile of tenecteplase was favourable, with
groups (65 [29%] patients in the tenecteplase group and no dierences observed in symptomatic intracranial
71 [31%] patients in the standard medical treatment haemorrhage or 90-day mortality compared with
group; adjusted relative rate 0·87 [95% CI 0·62–1·22]), as standard medical treatment. Importantly, the risk of
was the proportion of patients with an mRS score of 5–6 symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage in the
at 90 days (82 [37%] vs 89 [39%]; 0·87 [0·65–1·18]; table 2). tenecteplase group was low (~2%), which is lower than
Severe adverse events did not dier between the groups the risk reported in anterior circulation stroke.14 This
(appendix p 25). finding is consistent with previous evidence suggesting
that the risk of haemorrhagic transformation in posterior
Discussion circulation stroke might be lower than in anterior
The TRACE-5 trial showed that, in patients with circulation28 and further supports the safety of extending
ischaemic stroke due to basilar artery occlusion, intravenous thrombolysis beyond 4·5 h in basilar artery
treatment with intravenous tenecteplase within 24 h of occlusion.
symptom onset led to a larger proportion of patients with A previous trial29 showed no benefit of tenecteplase in
no disability at 90 days than that observed with standard the late time window for anterior circulation large-vessel
medical treatment. Of note, the magnitude of treatment occlusion (when most patients underwent immediate
eect in this trial is similar to that reported in patients endovascular thrombectomy). By comparison, the
with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion not TRACE-5 population was younger, had a longer interval
receiving endovascular thrombectomy in the TRACE-3 between thrombolysis and arterial puncture (45 min
trial.14 The magnitude of eect in secondary outcomes vs 15 min), and a lower rate of endovascular thrombectomy
using mRS score 0–2 and mRS score 0–3 dichotomies because most sites in this trial did not have endovascular
was smaller, but there was evidence of net benefit in the thrombectomy capability at all times. In contrast to the
ordinal analysis of mRS (scores 5–6 were combined). The Extending the Time Window for Thrombolysis in Posterior
proportion of patients with substantial reperfusion Circulation Stroke without Early CT Signs (EXPECTS)
before endovascular therapy was significantly higher in trial,12 which focused on the use of intravenous alteplase in
the tenecteplase group than in the standard medical an extended time window in a population of patients with
treatment group. The incidence of symptomatic very mild posterior circulation stroke with a median
intracranial haemorrhage within the first 36 h after NIHSS score of 3, our trial focused on expanding
treatment and 90-day all-cause mortality were similar intravenous thrombolysis eligibility to patients with basilar
between the two groups. artery occlusion, a devastating condition with a dismal
TRACE-5 was designed to evaluate the ecacy and prognosis. However, as a thrombolytic trial without a lower
safety of tenecteplase in an extended time window in limit on the NIHSS, a lower baseline NIHSS score was
patients with basilar artery occlusion. Endovascular observed in this trial than in the BAOCHE and
thrombectomy within 24 h of symptom onset is highly ATTENTION trials.6,7
eective for basilar artery occlusion,3 but access is limited Importantly, subgroup analyses demonstrated a
in many countries. Consistent with the majority of consistent treatment eect, regardless of the underlying
previous thrombolytic trials, we chose an mRS score cause of stroke or NIHSS score, with a benefit of
of 0–1 as the primary outcome. A study-level meta- tenecteplase preserved in patients with basilar artery
analysis of 11 randomised controlled trial results showed occlusion and NIHSS scores of less than 10, a subgroup
superiority of tenecteplase over alteplase, with the in which the ecacy of thrombectomy remains
strongest signal also observed at mRS score 0–1.13 Our uncertain.3 As suggested by the results of the Basilar
trial supports wider use of thrombolytic therapies up to Artery International Cooperation Study (BASICS) trial,4
24 h after onset of basilar artery occlusion, analogous to intravenous thrombolysis beyond 4·5 h of symptom
trials in anterior circulation stroke14 but without the need onset might be a preferred treatment option for patients
for perfusion mismatch imaging. This could greatly with basilar artery occlusion with NIHSS scores of less
expand access to reperfusion therapies for patients than 10.16 The trial was not powered to show a significant
requiring long transfers to centres with endovascular benefit in the subgroup of patients who were intended
thrombectomy capability or in settings in which for endovascular thrombectomy. However, there was no
770
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evidence of a dierential treatment eect. The ongoing comments for the manuscript. YoW and BCVC were principal
POST-ETERNAL trial (NCT05105633) and the planned investigators of the study. SZ and YH contributed to the trial execution
individual patient data pooled analysis with TRACE-5 and participant recruitment. JY calculated the sample size, formulated
the statistical plan, and performed the statistical analysis. All other
will shed more light on this question. The predefined
authors served as local investigators or co-investigators, with
subgroup analyses showed significantly higher rates of responsibilities encompassing participant recruitment, data collection,
excellent functional outcome with tenecteplase in and the critical review, revision, and final approval of the manuscript
before submission. The steering committee (YoW, BCVC, LHS, MF, and
patients with basilar artery occlusion who did not
MWP) was responsible for the overall design, protocol development,
undergo endovascular thrombectomy and did not receive
interpretation, and supervision of the trial. YoW, YX, and JY had access
alteplase in the extended time window (>4·5 h). to and verified all the underlying data reported in the manuscript, and all
TRACE-5 was a pragmatic trial and predominantly authors had final responsibility for the decision to submit for
publication.
used non-contrast CT brain images, CTA source images,
or diusion weighted imaging to assess baseline Declaration of interests
LHS serves as a scientific consultant regarding trial design and conduct
ischaemic changes, with no requirement for advanced
for Genentech and is a member of the steering committee of the
imaging to select patients with basilar artery occlusion
TIMELESS trial (NCT03785678); is a consultant on user interface design
for treatment in the late time window. This approach and usability to LifeImage; and is a member of a data safety monitoring
facilitates the implementation and translation of the trial board for Penumbra (MIND; NCT03342664). MF serves as a consultant
for Simcere USA, Revalesio, and Lumosa, and is a member of a data
results in settings in which advanced imaging might not
safety monitoring board for Moleac. All other authors declare no
be available. Patients enrolled based on MRI versus CT competing interests.
had similar treatment eect in post-hoc analysis.
Data sharing
Diusion weighted imaging–FLAIR mismatch was not Data collected for the study, including de-identified individual
used in selection of patients. The convenience of single- participant data and a data dictionary defining each field in the set, can
bolus administration of tenecteplase in patients with be made available to others on reasonable request to the corresponding
author and after signing appropriate data sharing agreements. Such
basilar artery occlusion is a major practical advantage
requests must be approved by all the respective ethics boards and
that will further facilitate implementation of the trial appropriate data custodians.
results in metropolitan and rural settings.
Acknowledgments
This trial has several limitations. First, the trial was open We thank the Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science
label. However, outcomes were assessed by clinicians who and Technology Major Project (2024ZD0527600, 2024ZD0527605),
were unaware of the treatment assignments. Second, we Beijing Municipal Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars
(JQ24058), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China
restricted enrolment to patients who did not have large
(82171272). China Shijiazhuang Pharmaceutical Company Recomgen
baseline infarcts in the posterior circulation (consistent Pharmaceutical (Guangzhou) supplied tenecteplase and an unrestricted
with previous trials in patients with basilar artery grant for infrastructure funding.
occlusion), so the generalisability of results to patients References
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DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)02633-9