Study of GSK1278863 to Reduce Ischemic Events in Patients Undergoing Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Inclusion Criteria

- Adults >= 18 years of age who require the following types of descending thoracic aorta
or thoracoabdominal aorta repair for atherosclerotic aneurysm or chronic dissection
(de novo Type B or residual Type B [following Type A repair]) via open surgery or
endovascular stenting (TEVAR) as per their treating surgeon

- Open surgery:

Extent I TAAA (+/-distal arch) if it extends to or beyond renal ostia. Extent II TAAA
(+/-distal arch). Extent III TAAA (defined as proximal extent or anastamosis superior to
inferior pulmonary vein).

Extent IV TAAA only with a prior TEVAR or if it is a redo procedure (in this setting a
"redo" is a prior abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) open or endovascular aortic repair
(EVAR), with either proximal suture line disruption or mesenteric segment aneurysm
recurrence requiring redo Extent IV reconstruction).

DTA repair with one of the following: Safi extent C coverage. Subclavian to diaphragm
disease extent. >75% of total DTA length.

-TEVAR with one of the following: Full DTA coverage with previous abdominal EVAR or open
AAA. Full DTA coverage including Zone 2 to celiac (i.e., distal arch plus full coverage
DTA).

Full DTA coverage with celiac artery coverage with or without left subclavian artery
coverage (Zone 2 or Zone 3 proximal landing), or full DTA (either Zone 2 or Zone 3) with
extension distal to celiac with visceral debranching (e.g., the abdominal hybrid Extent 2
TAAA).

Note: Zone 2 is defined as between the left carotid through coverage of the left subclavian
artery and Zone 3 is defined as the first 3cm distal to the left subclavian (e.g., between
left subclavian and ligamentum [isthmus]).

- Completed any staging or bypass procedure that precedes the aortic repair at least 48
hours prior to the repair.

- Expect placement of a lumbar CSF catheter during the procedure with plans to maintain
it for at least 48 hours per the treating physician.

- Capable of giving written informed consent, which includes compliance with the
requirements and restrictions listed in the consent form.

- A female subject is eligible to participate if she is of:

Non-childbearing potential defined as pre-menopausal females with a documented tubal
ligation or hysterectomy; or postmenopausal defined as 12 months of spontaneous amenorrhea
[in questionable cases a blood sample with simultaneous follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
> 40 milli international unit /mililiter (mL) and estradiol < 40 picogram/mL (<147
picomoles/Liter) is confirmatory]. Females on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and whose
menopausal status is in doubt will be required to use one of the contraception methods if
they wish to continue their HRT during the study. Otherwise, they must discontinue HRT to
allow confirmation of post-menopausal status prior to study enrollment. For most forms of
HRT, at least 2-4 weeks will elapse between the cessation of therapy and the blood draw;
this interval depends on the type and dosage of HRT. Following confirmation of their
post-menopausal status, they can resume use of HRT during the study without use of a
contraceptive method.

Child-bearing potential and agrees to use one of the contraception methods from screening
until completion of the Follow-up Visit.

- Male subjects with female partners of child-bearing potential must agree to use one of
the contraception methods. This criterion must be followed from the time of Screening
until the completion of the Follow-up Visit.

Exclusion Criteria

- The subject has a traumatic aortic dissection.

- The subject has a baseline NIHSS > 1 or modified Rankin Scale > 1.

- The subject has a history of myocardial infarction, stroke, or spinal infarct within
the past 3 months.

- The subject has active ulcer disease or recent gastrointestinal bleeding within the
past 6 months.

- The subject has a history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism in the past
12 months.

- The subject has been treated for a malignancy (excluding non-melanomatous skin
cancers) within the past 12 months and is not confirmed to be disease free.

- The subject has had treatment for retinal neovascularization (e.g., diabetic
proliferative retinopathy or age related macular degeneration) within 3 months of
randomization.

- The subject is currently receiving dialysis.

- The subject is currently receiving or expected to require treatment (within the study
period) with erythropoiesis medication such as epoetin alfa (Procrit, Epogen), or
darbepoetin alfa (Aranesp).

- The subject has any of the following at screening:

Hemoglobin >15.5 gram (g)/decilitre (dL) (male subjects or post-menopausal females)
Hemoglobin >14.5 g/dL (pre-menopausal female subjects) Single QTc >=480 millisecond (msec);
or QTc >=500 msec in subjects with bundle branch block (these criteria do not apply to
subjects with predominately paced rhythms) Aspartate aminotransferase and alanine
aminotransferase >=2xupper limit of normal (ULN); alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin
>=1.5xULN (isolated bilirubin >=1.5xULN is acceptable if bilirubin is fractionated and
direct bilirubin <35%) A positive pre-study drug/alcohol screen Lactation or pregnancy (as
determined by positive serum or urine hCG test)

- The use of prohibited medications

- History of regular alcohol consumption within 6 months of the study defined as: an
average weekly intake of >14 drinks for males or >7 drinks for females. One drink is
equivalent to 12 g of alcohol: 12 ounces (360 mL) of beer, 5 ounces (150 mL) of wine
or 1.5 ounces (45 mL) of 80 proof distilled spirits.

- The subject has participated in a clinical trial and has received an investigational
product within the following time period prior to the first dosing day in the current
study: 30 days, 5 half-lives or twice the duration of the biological effect of the
investigational product (whichever is longer).