Challenges in stroke treatment beyond tPA; clinically relevant experimental treatments

What is it about?

Even after more than 20 years only FDA approved tPA is the option for stroke treatment. Are the cell, tissue culture, and animal models truly translational in identifying new agents for stroke treatment? Are the animal models experiments clearly demonstrate that experimental agents effectively cross BBB and reach the injured brain and available for sufficient time? How far are we able to follow the NINDS stroke progress review recommendations, and are they achievable?

Featured Image

Why is it important?

In order to minimize the frustrations and disappointments such as the NXY-059 clinical trials; a clinically relevant delivery system for the drug should be used in animal models, i.e., avoid pre-treatment (before induction of stroke), intracisternal or intraventricular injections, which are inappropriate for patient treatment. Experimental data should include evidence that the agent reaches the injured brain tissue. These strict selection criteria may largely limit the number of agents that will eventually be brought to stroke clinical trails, but certainly minimizes the disappointments.