Scotsman.com- Scotland develops drug to prevent paralysis in stroke victims by Craig Brown

Scotsman.comScotland develops drug to prevent paralysis in stroke victims by Craig Brown

TENS of thousands of stroke victims could be saved from a life of paralysis by a new drug, Scottish scientists revealed last night. The drug, which can be administered intravenously up to six hours after a stroke, has shown remarkable results in reducing disability rates. In a trial of 1,700 patients, the researchers noted a 20 per cent improvement in their odds of avoiding disability. The treatment, which belongs to a class of drugs known as neuro-protectors, is a radical departure from the clot-busting chemicals currently used to prevent lasting damage following a stroke. Researchers at the University of Glasgow are leading the international trial of the treatment, which has just completed its third phase. The drug, known as NXY-059, could be available in three years.