TARGET-FIRST late-breaking at ESC 2025; NEJM publication. Shortening dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) duration from 1-year to 1-month after complete revascularization with Firehawk™ stents in selected low-risk acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients showed non-inferior ischemic outcomes and superior reduction in clinically relevant bleeding1.
Highlights
Clamart, France, 01 September 2025 – MicroPort® today announced results from the TARGET-FIRST trial1,2, presented as a Late-Breaking Trial at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2025 in Madrid, Spain and published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).1
In selected low-risk AMI patients who underwent complete revascularization with Firehawk™ stents, a strategy of early aspirin discontinuation at 1-month followed by antiplatelet monotherapy was evaluated against standard 12-month DAPT. TARGET-FIRST met its primary non-inferiority endpoint for net adverse clinical and cerebrovascular events and its secondary superiority endpoint of reducing clinically relevant bleeding.
Who: Selected low-risk AMI patients after complete revascularization with Firehawk Liberty™
What: 1-month DAPT followed by P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy vs. standard 12-month DAPT
Outcome:
Primary: Non-inferior for net adverse clinical and cerebrovascular events (p=0.021)1
Secondary: Superior for reducing clinically relevant bleeding (p=0.002)1
Design2: Prospective, open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT); 1,942 randomized across 40 European centers (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04753749)
While abbreviated DAPT has been investigated in high-bleeding-risk or unselected populations, TARGET-FIRST addresses an unmet evidence gap. For low-risk AMI patients without high bleeding risk, prior attempts to shorten DAPT have not consistently shown a net clinical benefit.
“TARGET-FIRST provides evidence that, when complete revascularization meets personalized therapy, abbreviated DAPT emerges as a safe and effective strategy for carefully selected AMI patients,” said Professor Giuseppe Tarantini, Principal Investigator of the TARGET-FIRST and Head of Cardiology at the University Hospital of Padova, Italy.
“While not a stent-comparison study, TARGET-FIRST utilized Firehawk™ for its target-eluting microgrooves designed to support vessel healing by reducing drug and polymer loads. The feasibility of shortened DAPT observed in this study is consistent with these design attributes, which we look forward to evaluating further and across broader patient cohorts,” said Brian Y. Chang, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer of MicroPort®.
“Publication of the TARGET-FIRST results in the New England Journal of Medicine underscores the clinical importance of this study and reflects MicroPort®’s commitment to rigorous evidence generation. We remain dedicated to collaborating with world-class investigators to expand patient access to innovative device technologies worldwide,” said Jonathan Chen, Rotating Co-Chief Executive Officer of MicroPort®.
“TARGET-FIRST represents a landmark milestone for MicroPort®, demonstrating once again our ability to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of medical science. We are proud that the Firehawk™ family of stents continues to achieve recognition in leading journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine. As a company, we will remain committed to pursuing transformative medical technologies that improve patient lives across the globe,” said Dr. Zhaohua Chang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MicroPort®.
About Study Design and Results1,2
The TARGET-FIRST trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04753749), a collaborative work between European Key Opinion Leaders from the steering committee3 and MicroPort®, is a prospective, open-label, multicenter randomized controlled trial that enrolled 2,246 patients across 40 European centers in France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Austria, and Portugal. After complete revascularization using Firehawk Liberty™, a latest-generation abluminal in-groove biodegradable polymer sirolimus-eluting stent, and one month of DAPT (aspirin + P2Y12 inhibitor), 1,942 eligible patients were randomized to:
Continue DAPT for an additional 11 months, or
Switch to P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy
The primary endpoint, a composite of all-cause death, MI, stent thrombosis, stroke, and major or fatal bleeding events was tested for non-inferiority. The key secondary endpoint, any clinically significant bleeding requiring medical attention, including major and fatal events, was tested for superiority.
Results1 demonstrated non-inferiority for the primary endpoint (p=0.021) and superiority for bleeding reduction with monotherapy (p=0.002). The study achieved high treatment adherence and patient retention with all clinical events independently adjudicated to ensure unbiased results and trial safety monitored externally to maintain the highest standards of patient protection.
About Firehawk™ and Firehawk Liberty™
All Firehawk™ stents have the same core technology underlying MicroPort®’s latest drug-eluting stents designed for the treatment of coronary artery disease. Its novel abluminal, in-groove architecture confines sirolimus and a biodegradable polymer within laser-cut microgrooves occupying <5% of the strut surface, leaving ~95% as bare metal. This design combines the anti-restenosis benefits of modern third-generation drug-eluting stents with the healing benefits of a bare-metal stent by only delivering drug where it is needed and minimizing overall polymer and drug footprint. Firehawk Liberty™ combines this drug-eluting stent technology with the latest generation delivery system that improves crossability, trackability, pushability, and expansion to improve operability on complex lesions. Clinical outcomes depend on patient and lesion characteristics; TARGET-FIRST was not designed to determine stent-specific effects.
About MicroPort®
Since 1998, MicroPort® (MicroPort Scientific Corporation; HKEX: 00853) has been breaking barriers and accelerating access to life-changing solutions so that patients everywhere can live better and longer lives. As a global medical device company, MicroPort® provides solutions across twelve therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular, orthopedics, endovascular, neurovascular and surgical robotics. Serving over 100 countries and 20,000 hospitals, MicroPort® provides a medical solution to a patient every 5 seconds.
References
Tarantini G, Smits PC, Lhermusier T, Honton B, Rangé G, Piot C, Lemesle G, Ruiz Nodar JM, Godin M, Madera Cambero M, Motreff P, Cuisset T, Bouchez D, Poezevara Y, Cayla G. A prospective study comparing short versus standard dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction: design and rationale of the TARGET-FIRST trial. EuroIntervention. 2023 Jun 19;19(3):240-247. doi: 10.4244/EIJ-D-22-01006. PMID: 36999409; PMCID: PMC11064808.
The TARGET-FIRST Steering Committee of leading European Key Opinion Leaders is composed of:
Giuseppe Tarantini, M.D., Ph.D.; Interventional Cardiology Unit, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences, and Public Health, University of Padova Medical School, Padua, Italy
Pieter C. Smits, M.D., Ph.D.; Cardiovascular European Research Center, Massy, France
Guillaume Cayla, M.D., Ph.D.; Cardiology Department, Nimes University Hospital, Montpellier
University, ACTION Study Group, Nimes, France
Media Contact:
Mrs. Sonia Thareau
Director Corporate Affairs and Communication
sonia.thareau@crm.microport.com
For more information, please visit:
https://microport.com/healthcare-professional/cardiovascular/firehawk-family