Investigational drugs for ischemic stroke: what's in the clinical development pipeline for acute phase and prevention?

Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2022 Apr 29. doi: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2072725. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality and its burden expected to increase. The only approved drug for acute ischemic stroke is the intravenous thrombolytic alteplase. The risk of bleeding complications is one of the reasons for the undertreatment of eligible patients. Numerous drugs are currently being developed to improve safety-efficacy.AREAS COVERED: We reviewed literature from January 1st, 2000, to 15th January 2022 for the development and testing of novel drugs with the aim of targeting treatment at prevention of ischemic stroke: PubMed, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrial.gov.EXPERT OPINION: The pathophysiology of ischemic stroke involves multiple pathways causing cerebral artery obstruction and brain tissue ischemia. Data suggest that tenecteplase is a more promising fibrinolytic agent with a superior efficacy-safety profile, compared to the currently approved alteplase. Current guidelines consider a short-term cycle of mannitol or hypertonic saline to be advisable in patients with space-occupying hemispheric infarction. Regarding primary and secondary prevention, research is primarily focused on identifying mechanisms to improve the safety-efficacy profile using a "hemostasis-sparing" approach. Further evaluation on those agents that have already shown promise for their risk/benefit profiles, would benefit greatly a neurologis...
Source: Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs - Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Source Type: research