Neurologists remain skeptical on novel drugs for acute ischemic stroke

In light of repeated clinical trial failures of investigational treatments, neurologists remain skeptical about the launch potential of pharmacotherapies in clinical-stage development for the acute or post-acute treatment of ischemic stroke, according to a new report from health care advisory firm Decision Resources.

As a result, Decision Resources expects that the market for ischemic stroke therapies will continue to be a graveyard for new product development in the USA, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK and Japan. It also finds that, through 2021, no new drug launches are expected for the acute or post-acute treatment of ischemic stroke.

According to the Pharmacor advisory service entitled Acute Ischemic Stroke, interviewed neurologists continue to express uncertainty about the probability of success for Lundbeck’s thrombolytic desmoteplase - currently the only novel drug in Phase III development - in its redesigned pivotal clinical trial program. Although Decision Resources does not currently forecast approval of desmoteplase, its clearance for use within three-to-nine hours post-stroke onset could represent one of the most important therapeutic achievements in stroke in more than a decade, while expanding the proportion of ischemic stroke patients with access to acute therapy.