An off-label clot-busting drug appears to work slightly better in treating stroke than an approved medication Patients given tenecteplase had a 5% better chance at an excellent recovery than those given alteplase They also had a 10% greater likelihood of reduced disability at three months after a stroke THURSDAY, Oct. 17, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- An off-label clot-busting drug appears to work slightly better in treating patients than an approved medication, a new review finds. The clot-buster is associated with a slightly higher likelihood of excellent recovery and reduced disability three months following a stroke, compared to the drug , researchers report.
However, the likelihood of good recovery is similar between the two treatments, researchers noted. For the study, researchers focused on strokes caused by a blood clot that blocks blood flow to the brain. These are called ischemic strokes, and they are the most common type of stroke.
Alteplase is the only drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for ischemic strokes, researchers noted.
Tenecteplase is a newer drug that’s been approved in Europe but not in the United States for treating ischemic strokes. However, tenecteplase is approved in the United States to treat clots contributing to heart attacks, and some hospitals use it to treat ischemic stroke, researchers said. “Our meta-analysis shows that while both drugs have similar safety and increase the chances of good recovery after stroke, tenecteplase.
