A new anti-clotting stroke drug developed by scientists at the Heart Research Institute in Newtown will be trialled on some hospitals starting August 2023.
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The drug, called TBO-309, could potentially improve blood flow to the brain and reduce or prevent brain injury. Researchers will begin Phase II clinical trials, administering the drug to 80 stroke patients across six leading Australian hospitals.
Professor Shaun Jackson, lead researcher of the Thrombosis Group at the Heart Research Institute, said preclinical models have already shown combining this new drug with current stroke treatments can boost blood flow to the brain and limit damage.
“If this drug can improve blood flow to the brain, without causing excessive bleeding, it could be a game changer in advancing the traditional methods of treating ischaemic stroke, improving the quality of life for thousands of stroke sufferers,” Prof Jackson said.
“We know people in rural parts of the country usually fare the worst, simply because of the time it takes to get treatment. Advance stroke care is only available in major hospitals. We think this drug can help balance the gap between rural and city health.”
Prof Jackson
The hospitals commencing the anti-clotting stroke drug trial in coming weeks are the Royal Prince Alfred and Prince of Wales Hospitals in Sydney, John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, Royal Adelaide and Royal Melbourne Hospitals.
Stroke is a major cause of death and disability worldwide, affecting 16 million people annually. Presently there is only one approved thrombolytic drug for treating strokes, but it has drawbacks like bleeding risks that restrict its usefulness for many patients.
The trial received a $2.7 million government grant in 2021 but was postponed after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, home to materials required for the drug.
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With limited and time-sensitive treatment options for stroke, if successful, this novel blood thinner will be the first drug breakthrough for the treatment of stroke in over three decades of research, according to Professor Jackson. The clinical trial is a collaboration between The George Institute for Global Health and the Heart Research Institute.
Published 14-July-2023