New drug shows promising results for stroke sufferers
After 10 tough years of rehabilitation, Shane Hopkins considers himself lucky.
The 56-year-old from Western Australia was working as a nurse manager when he suffered a stroke during his shift.
"My whole right side was all numb and I didn't know what was going on," Hopkins said.
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After 10 tough years of rehabilitation, Shane Hopkins considers himself lucky. 9News
He also lost his speech and had to learn how to walk and talk again.
The hours after a stroke are crucial and Perth scientists are hoping a breakthrough drug can reduce the severity of an attack.
"Our drug can target a number of these damaging processes that end up leading to the brain injury," Professor Bruno Meloni from the Perron Institute said.
The intravenous drug is made from a peptide, which is a small chain of amino acids.
It was found to have neuro-protective properties.
It would be used by first responders.
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The drug will be rolled out for trial to treat ischemic stroke on more than 30 healthy patients. 9News
"Our goal is to try and administer something in the first hour, in the first golden hour after stroke," Meloni said.
The drug will be rolled out for trial to treat ischemic stroke on more than 30 healthy patients.
Liz Dallimore from Argenica Therapeutics said the study will ideally be done "by the end of this calendar year".
"Then we'll start planning the next phase where we do it in stroke patients," she said.
The research has been 25 years in the making.
It is hoped this drug can help people with other neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's and those suffering concussion.
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