Researchers from the University of Connecticut have developed an experimental drug that can protect the brain and improve recovery after a stroke. The study is led by Rajkumar Verma, associate professor at UConn Health, and Raman Bahal, associate professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
This is reported by Hartford Courant (HC).
The main target of the scientists were microRNAs – small molecules that regulate gene activity. After a stroke, their level sharply increases, triggering inflammation, tissue damage, and impaired nervous system function.
“We have created a next-generation inhibitor that blocks the harmful effects of microRNAs,” the researchers explained. “Unlike traditional experimental drugs targeting a single protein or molecule, our approach simultaneously suppresses several destructive processes and activates the body’s protective mechanisms.”
Today, there are no effective drugs to protect the brain after a stroke: only thrombolytics or surgical removal of clots are used, available to only 10-15% of patients.
According to the researchers, the administration of a single dose of the new inhibitor to mice after a stroke significantly reduced brain damage and improved memory, motor activity, and recovery, with the protective effect lasting up to 15 days.
“Our inhibitor is more potent, specific, safe, and longer-acting than previous candidates,” Bahal noted. “We are exploring new types of chemistry and delivery technologies to create a fundamentally different approach to stroke treatment.”
The scientists have already filed a patent for the development and are in negotiations with pharmaceutical companies to further advance the drug into clinical trials.
