Randomized Trial Comparing a Nano-Coated Coronary Stent and Shorter DAPT Did Not Meet Non-Inferiority Criteria for Thrombotic Events

NEW YORK – October 17 , 2020 – For patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) that also require oral anticoagulation, treatment with a nanotechnology polymer-coated stent plus 14-day dual anti-platelet therapy (DAPT) did not reduce bleeding or establish non-inferior outcomes for thrombotic events compared with a drug-eluting stent (DES) and standard three or six-month DAPT therapy.

Findings were reported today at TCT Connect, the 32^nd annual scientific symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF). TCT is the world’s premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine.

COBRA-REDUCE was a randomized, open-label, active-controlled, assessor-blinded, multi-center trial. A total of 996 patients were enrolled between February 2016 and May 2020 at 59 sites in Europe and the United States. Patients at high bleeding risk (HBR) due to requirement for oral anticoagulation were randomized at the time of PCI to treatment with the COBRA-PzF stent followed by a very short duration (14 days) of DAPT or an FDA-approved new generation DES followed by guideline-recommended DAPT duration (three or six months).

The primary endpoints were BARC class ≥ 2 bleeding beyond 14 days or after hospital discharge (whichever is later) at six months post-randomization and composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), definite/probable stent thrombosis (ST), or ischemic stroke at six months.

Secondary endpoints included composite endpoint of all cause death, MI, definite/probable ST, ischemia-driven TLR, or ischemic stroke; composite of cardiac death and MI; ischemia driven TLR; definite/probable ST; ischemic stroke; BARC class 3-5 bleeding; TIMI major bleeding; TIMI major or minor bleeding; and health economic utilities.

The rate of bleeding in the test group (COBRA-PzF stent with short DAPT) was 7.5 % and in the control group (DES with standard DAPT) was 8.9% (p=0.477). The rate of the composite thrombotic endpoint was 7.7% in the test group and 5.2% in the control group (Difference +2.5% (95% CI 5.15%), p_{non-inferiority}=0.061).

“In patients undergoing PCI for acute or chronic coronary syndromes who are receiving oral anticoagulation with or without dose reduction, stenting with Cobra PzF stents with 14 days DAPT did not reduce BARC 2-5 bleeding and did not meet non-inferiority criteria with respect to thrombotic events compared with standard DES and 3-6 months of DAPT,“ said Robert A. Byrne MB, BCh, PhD. Dr. Byrne is Director of Cardiology, Mater Private Hospital, Dublin and Chair of Cardiovascular Research, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. “Treatment with the Cobra PzF stent was safe with ST rates considerably lower than those seen in earlier trials with HBR patients despite DAPT duration of only 14 days.“

“Ongoing follow-up and planned analysis of secondary outcomes at 12 months is needed to assess comparative efficacy of the treatment arms in relation to the study devices. Analyses of bleeding events according to medication compliance, OAC dose, and number of ARC-HBR criteria will permit examination of interaction between treatment effect, anticoagulation intensity and baseline bleeding risk,” Dr. Byrne said.

The COBRA-REDUCE trial was funded by CeloNova Biosciences. Dr. Byrne reported the following disclosures: Research contract with institution of prior employment: CeloNova Biosciences.

About CRF

The Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF) is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations specializing in interventional cardiology innovation, research, and education. CRF is dedicated to helping doctors improve survival and quality of life for people suffering from heart and vascular disease. For nearly 30 years, CRF has helped pioneer medical advances and educated doctors on the latest treatments for heart disease. CRF is comprised of the CRF Skirball Center for Innovation, CRF Clinical Trials Center, CRF Center for Education, CRF Digital, TCTMD, and Structural Heart: The Journal of the Heart Team.

Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics (TCT) is the annual scientific symposium of CRF and the premier educational meeting specializing in interventional cardiovascular medicine. Now in its 32^nd year, TCT features major medical research breakthroughs and gathers leading researchers and clinicians from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence-based research in the field.

For more information, visit www.crf.org and www.tctconference.com.

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