This study of NicaPlant® is conducted in patients who have a subarachnoid haemorrhage. Patients will be randomized in two treatment groups. Both groups will receive the standard of care and the investigational group will receive in addition NicaPlant®. NicaPlant® is tested to reduce the long-term complications of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH).

This is a safety, tolerability, efficacy and pharmacokinetic study of NicaPlant® in subarachnoid haemorrhage patients involving two treatment groups. Both treatment groups will receive standard of care and patients randomised to the investigational group will receive in addition NicaPlant® .

NicaPlant® is a nicardipine modified-release formulation. It is presented in the form of a rod-shaped implant with a 4 mg nicardipine load. Following aneurysm clip ligation, 10 NicaPlant® implants will be placed into the basal cisterns in direct contact with the exposed cerebral blood vessel walls.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Informed consent obtained according to the Country regulation.
• Male or female patients aged 18 to 75 years (inclusive).
• World Federation of Neurological Surgeons (WFNS) grade III-IV.
• Ruptured saccular aneurysm, confirmed by angiography.
• Onset of aSAH clinical symptoms within the preceding 48 hours.
• Treatment of aneurysm via surgical clip ligation within 72 hours of aSAH is achievable.
• Female patients of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (urine or serum) at screening and must agree to use adequate birth control up to 12 weeks after implantation of the study drug. Female patients are considered to be not of child-bearing potential if they have a history of tubal ligation or hysterectomy or are post-menopausal with a minimum of 2 years without a natural menstrual cycle. Male patients must agree to use adequate birth control up to 12 weeks after implantation of the study drug.

Exclusion Criteria:

• SAH due to other causes (e.g. trauma, fusiform or mycotic aneurysm).
• World Federation of Neurosurgery (WFNS) grade I, II and V patients.
• Pregnant or Lactating Women.
• Intraventricular or intracerebral blood, in the absence of subarachnoid blood.
• Treatment of aneurysm via endovascular embolisation.
• Presence of moderate or severe vasospasm on screening angiography.
• Any known or CT /MRI evidence of previous major cerebral damage
• Evidence of a cerebral infarction with neurological deficit on pre-treatment CT/MRI.
• History of malignant disease (except for non-melanoma skin cancer) within the previous 5 years or any history of malignant brain tumours or brain metastasis.
• Patients who have received an investigational product or participated in another interventional clinical study within 30 days prior to randomisation.
• Patients with known allergy for Poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) or nicardipine.
• Major complication during aneurysm repair such as, but not limited to, massive intraoperative haemorrhage, brain swelling, or inability to secure the ruptured aneurysm.

The clinical trial is defined as a single-blind study. For ethical reasons, no placebo implants will be used and therefore the surgeon cannot be blinded. All investigators/surgeons who have not been involved in the operation of a patient will remain blinded for this particular patient.