NEW CLOT-BUSTER A STROKE OF GENIUS

A CLOT-BUSTING drug already approved by the

FDA for heart attacks could revolutionize the treatment of strokes, a new study suggests.

According to researchers, tenecteplase (TNK) more easily attaches to braindamaging clots and adheres longer than the current recommended therapy, allowing blood flow to be restored faster and for a lengthier time.

“TNK is an effective clotdissolving drug. It is very easy to administer, which makes it a game-changer when seconds count to save brain cells,” says Dr. Bijoy Menon, a neurologist and professor at the University of Calgary.

In Canada’s largest-ever clinical stroke trial, involving 22 stroke centers, Menon and his colleagues compared TNK to alteplase (tPA), the current recommended drug for acute ischemic strokes.

Alteplase takes up to an hour to administer and requires an infusion pump that must be monitored, making transporting patients more difficult, researchers say.

“Tenecteplase is so effective because it can be administered as a single immediate dose,” says study investigator Dr. Rick Swartz. “That’s a big advantage. TNK could potentially be administered wherever the patient is seen first at a medical center or small hospital.”