HealthDay: 'Neuroprotectant' drug could boost outcomes after stroke
UC's Broderick comments on study
A new study found using a "neuroprotectant" drug alongside the standard surgical removal of a blood clot may reduce the risk of death and disability following a stroke.
Researchers presenting data at the International Stroke Conference reported the medication, called ApTOLL, protects brain tissue from continuing damage by cooling down inflammation.
More than 150 people who had an ischemic stroke were enrolled in the study in France and Spain, either receiving ApTOLL at two different doses or a placebo medication in addition to mechanical blood clot removal.
The patients who received the higher dose of ApTOLL were four times less likely to die from stroke compared to the patients who received a placebo.
Joseph Broderick, MD, professor in UC’s Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine in the College of Medicine, director of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute and a UC Health physician, commented on the study for HealthDay. He said the drug needs to be tested more thoroughly before becoming a standard of care.
"The data warrants further study in a phase 3 study, but differences seen in this trial may be due to small number of patients and imbalances in factors related to outcome," Broderick said, adding that a much larger trial would be needed to confirm the findings.
Featured photo at top of Dr. Broderick. Photo/Joseph Fuqua II/University of Cincinnati
Related Stories
Cincinnati sees record rainfall in weekend deluge
July 21, 2026
The Cincinnati Enquirer talks to UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Associate Professor Patrick Ray for context about a July 17 rainstorm that dumped a record amount of rain on parts of Cincinnati.
Putting preschool into perspective
July 20, 2026
Preschool and childcare can be difficult to navigate for parents, as Spectrum News 1 Ohio recently reported. Waitlists are long, and factors like cost, location and transportation can limit options. According to a recent study published by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, only 41% of 3- to 4-year-olds in Ohio were enrolled in preschool between 2020 and 2024 — a 4% decrease from pre-pandemic numbers. For University of Cincinnati early childhood education faculty member Chad Nunamaker, that statistic has caveats.
Engineering magnets for a cleaner future
July 20, 2026
The United States is heavily reliant on imported rare-earth materials to make permanent magnets. Ugochukwu Philip Ochieze, materials science student at the University of Cincinnati, is studying how to use common materials to create permanent magnets, eliminating the need for expensive and scarce rare-earth materials. Pursuing his PhD, Ochieze was named Graduate Student Engineer of the Month by the College of Engineering and Applied Science.