Tenecteplase, commonly used to treat acute myocardial infarction (AMI), could also revolutionize the care of patients who have suffered a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), underlines a study published in the British medical journal “The Lancet” .
Results of clinical trial of 1,600 patients, largest stroke clinical trial ever conducted in Canada, finds tenecteplase effective for stroke treatment, according to study that lasted two years and was co-led by Professor Bijoy Menon, University of Calgary and neurologist at Foothills Hospital, with input from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and the University of Toronto.
Dr. Bijoy Menon explains that Alteplase, which is the drug commonly used to treat stroke, is certainly effective but more difficult to administer and its administration can take up to an hour and requires an infusion pump which, in addition , must be monitored, whereas tenecteplase is simply administered intravenously and with almost immediate effect on the patient.
The ease and speed with which this drug can be administered, “in large hospitals, in rural hospitals, in ambulances”, is its great advantage because, “when it comes to saving brain cells, even seconds count a lot”, he underlines. As well as having the potential to revolutionize stroke treatment, the new drug could also be a cheaper option in middle- and low-income countries, Dr Menon said.