Trial finds drug reteplase may be another option for stroke thrombolysis
UC expert comments on study to TCT MD
The University of Cincinnati's Pooja Khatri commented to TCTMD on the RAISE trial that found drug reteplase may be a safe and effective option to treat acute ischemic stroke.
Like drugs tenecteplase and alteplase, reteplase is a clot-busting medication that was administered to patients within 4.5 hours of stroke onset during the trial. The drug was found to lead to a higher rate of excellent functional outcome compared with standard alteplase with no significant increase in symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, other bleeding outcomes or death.
The trial “raises the possibility of another intravenous thrombolytic drug that we could use to treat acute stroke patients,” said Khatri, MD, professor, vice chair of research and division chief in the Department of Neurology & Rehabilitation Medicine at UC's College of Medicine and associate director of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute, noting that this is the first phase III trial to address the topic.
“It opens some doors, but we need more data to know if this is going to have a role in our armamentarium as part of our standard of care in the long run,” Khatri added.
Featured photo at top of illustration of brain with stroke symptoms. Photo/PeterSchreiber.media/iStock.
Related Stories
These teeny spiders are social media stars
August 28, 2026
The New York Times turned to a University of Cincinnati professor to explain the appeal of jumping spiders on social media.
An internal divide among unions on AI impacts the Wisconsin gubernatorial race
August 28, 2026
Anne Lofaso, a professor in the Donald P. Klekamp College of Law at UC, spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio, about the schism among unions over AI and whether it is a plus, a negative, or somewhere in between when looking at job creation.
On-site training in Speech & Hearing Clinic sets UC’s programs apart
August 27, 2026
At the University of Cincinnati’s Speech & Hearing Clinic, Doctor of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology graduate students gain real-world experience while providing free speech and hearing services to the community.