A Phase 3, Randomized, Active-controlled, Single-blind Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Fibrin Sealant Grifols in Achieving Hemostasis in Pediatric Surgery

Background: In this study, two fibrin sealant products, Fibrin Sealant Grifols (FS Grifols 80 mg/mL fibrinogen; 500 IU/mL thrombin) and Evicel (fibrinogen 55-85 mg/mL; thrombin 800-1200 IU/mL) were studied for efficacy in achieving hemostasis at a targeted bleeding site (TBS) on parenchymous or soft tissue in pediatric surgeries.

Methods: This phase 3, single-blind, active comparator, non-inferiority trial compared the number of patients achieving hemostasis at a TBS at four (T₄ - primary endpoint), seven (T₇) and 10 (T₁₀) minutes after application, Safety and tolerability were assessed by recording adverse events during and after procedures. Eligible patients were <18 years old undergoing elective, open, non-cardiac thoracic, abdominal or pelvic surgeries. Preterm (<37 weeks gestation) and newborn (0-27 days) infants were eligible.

Results: At T₄, 98.7% of FS Grifols group (n = 91) and 95.4% of the Evicel group (n = 87) achieved hemostasis. All patients with residual bleeding at T₄ were undergoing soft tissue surgery. All patients achieved hemostasis by T₇. At T₁₀, all patients achieved hemostasis except one (FS Grifols (no observation recorded)). There were no incidents of persistent bleeding. For FS Grifols, 26.5% of patients had treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) and 18.4% for Evicel. One TEAE (moderate procedural pain - FS Grifols group) was considered possibly related to study treatment. Three patients died for reasons unrelated to the study medications.

Conclusions: FS Grifols was safe and effective at achieving hemostasis in pediatric patients having parenchymous or soft tissue surgeries. The efficacy of FS Grifols was non-inferior to Evicel.

Level of evidence: I.