Fact CheckerSign in

NCT07870681Not yet recruitingPhase 2/3

Infarct Growth After Intravenous Tocilizumab in Adults With Acute Ischemic Stroke Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy - ILLUMINATE

A Randomized Placebo-controlled Double-blind Trial Phase II Two-arm Study to Investigate Infarct Growth Over 72 Hours Assessed With Diffusion Weighted Imaging on MRI After Treatment With Intravenous Tocilizumab or Placebo in Patients Above 18 Years of Age With Acute Ischemic Stroke Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 13 Oct 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The goal of this phase II, placebo-controlled intervention study is to investigate whether tocilizumab, an interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitor, may have a neuroprotective effect by reducing infarct growth in adults with acute ischemic stroke. The main question it aims to answer is: Does treatment with tocilizumab given before or during endovascular therapy (EVT) reduce infarct growth 72 hours after EVT compared with placebo in adults with acute ischemic stroke? Researchers will compare tocilizumab with placebo to determine whether infarct growth is smaller in participants receiving tocilizumab. Participants will: Receive either a single dose of tocilizumab or placebo before or during EVT. Undergo standard endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Undergo brain MRI approximately 72 hours after EVT to assess infarct growth. Have clinical assessments and other study-related examinations and follow-up according to the study protocol.

Status (registry)
Not yet recruiting
Phase (registry)
Phase 2/3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
156 (estimated)
First submitted
18 Sept 2026
Start date
21 Sept 2026
Primary completion date
31 Jan 2029
Lead sponsor
Oslo University Hospital
Diseases
Stroke
NCT number
NCT07870681

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional · Phase 2/3
  • Planned participants: 156
  • From 21 Sept 2026 to the primary completion date, 31 Jan 2029
  • 6 sites in 2 countries
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Clinical history, prior imaging or clinical judgment suggesting that the intracranial occlusion is chronic, or there is a suspected intracranial dissection such that there is a predicted lack of success with endovascular intervention.
  • Patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs other than prednisolone ≤ 10 mg/day. Prior/Concurrent Clinical Study Experience
  • Known prior receipt of tocilizumab for any reason, including prior enrolment in this trial.
    • Diagnostic Assessments

Other illness

  • Medical Conditions
  • Any intracranial haemorrhage during the qualifying imaging.
  • Malignancies, immunodeficiency, ongoing infection or any suspicion of acute infection.

Lab values

  • Known thrombocytopenia (platelet count \<100 × 10³/µL), neutropenia (neutrophil count \<2.5 × 10⁹/L), or elevated liver enzymes (ALT or AST \>1.5 × the upper limit of normal \[ULN\]).
  • Known hypersensitivity to tocilizumab or any of the excipients listed in section 6.1 of the SmPC: sucrose, polysorbate 80 (E 433), disodium phosphate dodecahydrate (for pH adjustment), sodium dihydrogen phosphate dihydrate (for pH adjustment) and water for injections. Prior/Concomitant Therapy
  • Pregnancy/Lactation; female, with positive urine or serum beta human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) test, or breastfeeding.

Other

  • Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:
  • Systolic blood pressure \> 185 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \> 110 mmHg at baseline, despite appropriate medical management.
  • Endovascular thrombectomy procedure is completed as defined by the presence of TICI 2c/3 reperfusion or completion of groin / arterial closure.
  • Contraindications to MRI.
  • Large core of established infarction (ASPECTS 0-2). Other Exclusion Criteria

Who the study is looking for

  • Participants are eligible to be included in the study only if all of the following criteria apply:
  • Age
  • Participant must be above 18 years of age at the time of signing the informed consent.
    • Type of Participant and Disease Characteristics
  • Participants who have acute ischemic stroke selected for emergency endovascular treatment according to treatment guidelines.
  • Onset of stroke symptoms (last-known-well) time to randomization time within 12 hours.
  • Large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation (terminal internal carotid artery, M1 or M2 segment of MCA). Tandem extracranial carotid and intracranial occlusions are permitted.
    • Sex and Contraceptive/Barrier Requirements
  • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) can only be included if they use a highly effective contraception method as defined in Appendix 3 of the protocol.
    • Informed Consent
  • Participants must be capable of giving signed informed consent or consent must be given by legal representative as described in Section 10.1.2., including compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (6)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
Aalborg University Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
AalborgDenmarkUnknown status
Aarhus University Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
AarhusDenmarkUnknown status
Rigshospitalet
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
CopenhagenDenmarkUnknown status
Odense University Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
OdenseDenmarkUnknown status
Akershus University Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
LørenskogNorwayUnknown status
Oslo University Hospital
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
OsloNorwayUnknown status

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.