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Intracerebral HemorrhagePhase 3FASTESTNCT03496883

Recombinant Factor VIIa (rFVIIa) for Hemorrhagic Stroke Trial

A Phase 3 study testing Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa) in people with Intracerebral Hemorrhage, run by Joseph Broderick, MD at 88 sites in 6 countries.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

The objective of the rFVIIa for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke Administered at Earliest Time (FASTEST) Trial is to establish the first treatment for acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within a time window and subgroup of patients that is most likely to benefit. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 80 years
Conditions the study is for
Intracerebral Hemorrhage
What is being tested?
Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa)
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
860 participants
Where
88 sitesin 6 countries
Study dates
3 Dec 2021to 1 Jan 2028
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 to 80 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Patients aged 18-80 years, inclusive
  • Patients with spontaneous ICH
  • Able to treat with study medication (rFVIIa/placebo) within 120 minutes of stroke onset or last known well
  • Efforts to obtain informed consent per EFIC guidelines (U.S.) or adherence to country-specific emergency research informed consent regulations (Canada, Germany, Spain, U.K., Japan)

Who cannot join

  • Score of 3 to 7 on the Glasgow Coma Scale
  • Secondary ICH related to known causes (e.g., trauma, aneurysm, arteriovenous malformation (AVM), oral anticoagulant use (vitamin K antagonists or novel oral anticoagulants) within the past 7 days, coagulopathy, etc.)
  • ICH volume < 2 cc or ≥ 60 cc
  • Blood filling 2/3 or more of one lateral ventricle of the brain, OR, blood filling at least 1/3 of both lateral ventricles.
  • Pre-existing disability (mRS > 2)
  • Symptomatic thrombotic or vaso-occlusive disease in past 90 days (e.g., cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolus, deep vein thrombosis, or unstable angina)
Show all 22Show fewer
  • Clinical or EKG evidence of ST elevation consistent with acute myocardial ischemia
  • Brainstem location of hemorrhage (patients with cerebellar hemorrhage may be enrolled)
  • Refusal to participate in study by patient, legal representative, or family member
  • Known or suspected thrombocytopenia (unless current platelet count documented above 50,000/μL)
  • Unfractionated heparin use with abnormal PTT
  • Pro-coagulant drugs within 24 hours prior to patient enrollment into the FASTEST trial (example, tranexamic acid or aminocaproic acid)
  • Low-molecular weight heparin use within the previous 24 hours
  • Recent (within 90 days) carotid endarterectomy or coronary or cerebrovascular angioplasty or stenting
  • Advanced or terminal illness or any other condition the investigator feels would pose a significant hazard to the patient if rFVIIa were administered
  • Recent (within 30 days) participation in any investigational drug or device trial or earlier participation in any investigational drug or device trial for which the duration of effect is expected to persist until to the time of FASTEST enrollment
  • Planned withdrawal of care or comfort care measures
  • Patient known or suspected of not being able to comply with trial protocol (e.g., due to alcoholism, drug dependency, or psychological disorder)
  • Known or suspected allergy to trial medication(s), excipients, or related products
  • Contraindications to study medication
  • Previous participation in this trial (previously randomized)
  • Females of childbearing potential who are known to be pregnant or within 12 weeks post-partum and/or lactating at time of enrollment

Trial locations and contacts

88 sites in 6 countries.

88 sites in 6 countries

United States51 sites
  • Grady Memorial Hospital

    Atlanta, Georgia, 30303

  • Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center

    Baldwin Park, California, 91706

  • University of Alabama Hospital

    Birmingham, Alabama, 35233

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

  • Mills Peninsula Medical Center

    Burlingame, California, 94010

  • M Health Fairview Ridges Hospital,

    Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337

  • Medical University of South Carolina University Hospital

    Charleston, South Carolina, 29425

  • Northwestern Memorial Hospital

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611

  • University of Chicago Medical Center

    Chicago, Illinois, 60637

  • University of Cincinnati Medical Center

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229

  • OSU Wexner Medical Center

    Columbus, Ohio, 43210

  • Riverside Methodist Hospital

    Columbus, Ohio, 43214

  • Henry Ford Hospital

    Detroit, Michigan, 48208

  • Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center

    Downey, California, 90242

  • M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital

    Edina, Minnesota, 55435

  • Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center

    Fontana, California, 92335

  • UF Health Shands Hospital

    Gainesville, Florida, 32608

  • Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital

    Greenville, South Carolina, 29605

  • Kaiser Permanente South Bay Medical Center

    Harbor City, California, 90710

  • The Queen's Medical Center

    Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813

  • Memorial Hermann Memorial City Medical Center

    Houston, Texas, 77024

  • Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030

  • Mayo Clinic

    Jacksonville, Florida, 32224

  • UCSD Health La Jolla

    La Jolla, California, 92037

  • Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

    Los Angeles, California, 90027

  • Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center

    Los Angeles, California, 90034

  • Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

    Los Angeles, California, 90095

  • North Shore University Hospital

    Manhasset, New York, 11030

  • M Health Fairview St. John's Hospital

    Maplewood, Minnesota, 55109

  • WellStar Kennestone Hospital

    Marietta, Georgia, 30060

  • M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center Hospital,

    Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455

  • Mount Sinai West

    New York, New York, 10019

  • The Mount Sinai Hospital

    New York, New York, 10029

  • UC Irvine Medical Center,

    Orange, California, 92868

  • Temple University Hospital

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140

  • St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center

    Phoenix, Arizona, 85013

  • Providence St. Vincent Medical Center

    Portland, Oregon, 97225

  • VCU Medical Center

    Richmond, Virginia, 23219

  • Kaiser Permanente Riverside Medical Center

    Riverside, California, 92505

  • Mayo Clinic Saint Marys Campus

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55902

  • UC Davis Medical Center

    Sacramento, California, 95817

  • University of Utah Healthcare

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132

  • UCSD Medical Center - Hillcrest Hospital

    San Diego, California, 92103

  • San Francisco General Hospital

    San Francisco, California, 94110

  • Barnes Jewish Hospital

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110

  • Stony Brook University Hospital

    Stony Brook, New York, 11794

  • Toledo Hospital

    Toledo, Ohio, 43606

  • St. John Medical Center

    Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104

  • Central DuPage Hospital

    Winfield, Illinois, 60190

  • Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center

    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157

  • UMass Memorial Medical Center

    Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605

Other trials in United States

Japan14 sites
  • Kyushu Medical Center

    Fukuoka

  • Gifu University Hospital

    Gifu

  • Kagoshima City Hospital

    Kagoshima

  • Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital

    Kobe

  • Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini Hospital

    Kyoto

  • Iwate Prefectural Central Hospital

    Morioka

  • Niigata City General Hospital

    Niigata

  • KMU University Hospital

    Osaka

  • NHO Osaka National Hospital

    Osaka

  • Nakamura Memorial Hospital

    Sapporo

  • Jichi Medical University Hospital

    Shimotsuke

  • National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center

    Suita, Osaka, 564-8565

  • Kyorin University Hospital

    Tokyo

  • Toranomon Hospital

    Tokyo

Other trials in Japan

Canada8 sites
  • University of Calgary - Foothills Medical Centre

    Calgary, Alberta

  • University of Alberta Hospital

    Edmonton, Alberta, AB T6G 2B7

  • Hamilton General Hospital

    Hamilton, Ontario, L8L 2X2

  • University of Montreal Hospital

    Montreal, Quebec, H2X 3E4

  • Ottawa Hospital Research Institute

    Ottawa, Ontario, K1H 8L6

  • Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center

    Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5

  • St. Michaels Hospital

    Toronto, Ontario, M5B 1W8

  • Vancouver General Hospital

    Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9

Other trials in Canada

Spain6 sites
  • Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol

    Badalona, Barcelona, 21A 08916

  • Santa Creu and Sant Pau Hospital

    Barcelona, Catalonia, 08025

  • Girona University Hospital

    Girona, Catalonia, 17007

  • Vall d'Hebron University Hospital (VHUH)

    Horta, Barcelona

  • Bellvitge University Hospital,

    L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08907

  • Arnau de Vilanova University Hospital

    Lleida, Catalonia, 25198

Other trials in Spain

Germany5 sites
  • University Hospital Augsburg

    Augsburg, 86156

  • Charite University Medicine Berlin

    Berlin

  • Clinic Frankfurt Hoechst

    Frankfurt am Main, Hesse

  • University Hospital Heidelberg

    Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, 69120

  • University Hospital Tuebingen

    Tübingen, 72076

Other trials in Germany

United Kingdom4 sites
  • Royal Victoria Infirmary

    Newcastle upon Tyne

  • Queens Medical Centre

    Nottingham

  • John Radcliffe Hospital

    Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX3 9DU

  • Royal Stoke University Hospital

    Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 6QG

Other trials in United Kingdom

About this study

Official title: Recombinant Factor VIIa (rFVIIa) for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke Administered at Earliest Time (FASTEST) Trial

The objective of the rFVIIa for Acute Hemorrhagic Stroke Administered at Earliest Time (FASTEST) Trial is to establish the first treatment for acute spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) within a time window and subgroup of patients that is most likely to benefit. The central hypothesis is that rFVIIa, administered within 120 minutes from stroke onset with an identified subgroup of patients most likely to benefit, will improve outcomes at 180 days as measured by the Modified Rankin Score (mRS) and decrease ongoing bleeding as compared to standard therapy.

Read the detailed description

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. Involving other countries may be possible in the future depending upon recruitment needs.

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.

Being tested
Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa), Placebo
Medical subject headings
Cerebral Hemorrhage

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa)Biological

    Also called NovoSeven, NiaStase

    Participants will be randomized in a double-blinded fashion to rFVIIa 80 µg/kg dose (maximum 10 mg dose) or matching 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.

  • PlaceboBiological

    Participants will be randomized in a double-blinded fashion to rFVIIa 80 µg/kg dose (maximum 10 mg dose) or matching 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.

Study groups in NCT03496883
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa)Active comparatorrFVIIa given as IV injection over 2 minutes within 120 minutes of stroke onset
Receives: Biological: Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa)
PlaceboPlacebo comparatorMatching placebo given as IV injection over 2 minutes within 120 minutes of stroke onset
Receives: Biological: Placebo

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS)

    Ordinal distribution with the following steps: 0-2, 3, 4-6

    Measured: 180 days

Secondary outcomes (7)
  1. mRS

    Utility-weighted

    Measured: 180 days

  2. mRS

    Score of 0-2

    Measured: 180 days

  3. EQ-5D

    Quality of life scale

    Measured: 180 days

  4. Change in the volume of ICH and ICH+IVH

    As measured by non-contrast CT of the head

    Measured: Between baseline CT and 24-hour CT

  5. mRS

    Ordinal distribution

    Measured: 90 days

  6. EQ-5D

    Quality of life scale

    Measured: 90 days

  7. mRS

    Ordinal distribution

    Measured: 180 days

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted12 Apr 2018
  2. Study start3 Dec 2021
  3. Primary completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jan 2028 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
860 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03496883
Sponsor's protocol ID
UCincinnatifastest
Other IDs
1U01NS110772-01, 2019-003722-25, U1111-1201-0087, 2019
Acronym
FASTEST
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
5 Apr 2018
Last updated
21 Jan 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Results to be reported on ClinicalTrials.gov, and trial database prepared for NINDS for sharing with other investigators

Publications

  • Broderick JP, Naidech AM, Elm JJ, Toyoda K, Dowlatshahi D, Demchuk AM, Khatri P, Steiner T, Bath PM, Audebert HJ, Vagal A, Yoshimura S, Mayer SA, Wang LL, Sabagha N, Mocco JD, Molina C, Aviv R, Stinson E, Quadri SA, Carrozzella J, Huynh T, Phan A, Beall J, Davis I, Sakai N, Ohta T, Yokosawa M, Hara T, Sangha N, Morita K, Dominc Tse MY, Streib CD, Miyashita F, Silva Y, Nagakane Y, Gheorghiu T, Sun CH, Hirano T, Poli S, Izumo T, Fukuda-Doi M, Ihara M, Koga M, Buck B, Walsh KB, Spokovny I, Grotta JC; FASTEST Investigators. Recombinant factor VIIa versus placebo for spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage within 2 h of symptom onset (FASTEST): a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2026 Feb 21;407(10530):773-783. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00097-8. Epub 2026 Feb 4.

    PubMed 41653933
  • Yu W, Alexander MJ. Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: Recent advances and critical thinking on future clinical trial design. Chin Med J (Engl). 2024 Dec 20;137(24):2899-2906. doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000003408. Epub 2024 Dec 10. No abstract available.

    PubMed 39654449
  • Eilertsen H, Menon CS, Law ZK, Chen C, Bath PM, Steiner T, Desborough MJ, Sandset EC, Sprigg N, Al-Shahi Salman R. Haemostatic therapies for stroke due to acute, spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Oct 23;10(10):CD005951. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005951.pub5.

    PubMed 37870112
  • Naidech AM, Grotta J, Elm J, Janis S, Dowlatshahi D, Toyoda K, Steiner T, Mayer SA, Khanolkar P, Denlinger J, Audebert HJ, Molina C, Khatri P, Sprigg N, Vagal A, Broderick JP. Recombinant factor VIIa for hemorrhagic stroke treatment at earliest possible time (FASTEST): Protocol for a phase III, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Int J Stroke. 2022 Aug;17(7):806-809. doi: 10.1177/17474930211042700. Epub 2021 Sep 5.

    PubMed 34427473

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing Recombinant Activated Factor VII (rFVIIa) in people with Intracerebral Hemorrhage, run by Joseph Broderick, MD at 88 sites in 6 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 22 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 21 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 88 sites in United States, Japan, Canada, Spain, Germany and 1 more country. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) (time frame: 180 days). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03496883, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 21 Jan 2026.

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