Recruiting

Comparing two blood-thinning medications after a minor stroke

Plain-English translation of NCT06591377 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated September 2025 · Translation generated July 2026 · How we translate trials

Phase 3 — Testing in thousands of people, comparing the treatment against what doctors currently use. This is the last big step before approval.

What is this trial?

This trial is comparing two medications — ticagrelor and cilostazol — to see which one works better when combined with aspirin to prevent another stroke in people who have recently had a minor stroke. Both medications help prevent blood clots. The study will follow 900 patients for 90 days to see which treatment reduces the risk of future strokes and has fewer dangerous bleeding side effects.

After a minor stroke caused by a blood clot, doctors need to find the best way to prevent another stroke from happening. This medication is being tested to see if it offers better protection than current standard treatments while remaining safe.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you are between 18 and 75 years old
you have been diagnosed with your first-ever minor stroke caused by a blood clot in a large brain vessel, or you experienced a TIA (mini-stroke with symptoms that resolved)
you received blood-thinning medication within 24 hours of your stroke starting
you are not eligible for a clot-busting drug called rt-PA

You likely don't qualify if…

you have a history of bleeding disorders, recent bleeding, or bleeding in the last year
you are currently taking warfarin or have taken ticagrelor regularly in the week before admission
you have had a seizure at the time of your stroke or have a history of seizures or certain brain conditions like epilepsy or multiple sclerosis
you have had a recent heart attack (within 6 weeks), active stomach ulcers, major surgery (within 3 months), or an allergy to the study medications
you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have very high or very low blood pressure, blood sugar, or platelet counts on admission

What participation looks like

You will take one of the two medications by mouth for 90 days after your stroke, along with aspirin. During this time, you will have clinic visits and brain imaging scans (including MRI and CT scans) on specific days — at admission, day 2, day 7, and at 3 months — to check how you are recovering and whether you have had another stroke. You will also have blood tests and heart monitoring to make sure the medication is safe for you.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 4, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(2 sites)

Egypt

El-sahel teaching hospital, Cairo

Kafr Elsheikh University Hospital, Kafr ash Shaykh