From one hour to 10 seconds: new stroke drug could transform treatment in Israel

 How long have they been incompetent in not having this?

 Tenecteplase (66 posts to October 2011)

From one hour to 10 seconds: new stroke drug could transform treatment in Israel

 A new clot-busting drug called tenecteplase can be administered in seconds rather than through an hour-long infusion; studies suggest it is at least as effective as existing treatment, while Israeli hospitals prepare for its expected introduction in 2027

We see them in the emergency room: people who were going about their normal lives just moments earlier and suddenly cannot speak clearly, move an arm or stand on their feet. From the moment they arrive at the hospital, a race against time begins. Every minute that a blood vessel in the brain remains blocked, millions of nerve cells can suffer irreversible damage. For years, the medication used to dissolve these clots has required an intravenous infusion lasting about an hour. Now, a major change is approaching: a drug called tenecteplase, or TNK, administered through a single intravenous injection in just five to 10 seconds. Already used in several countries, TNK is expected to become available in Israel after completing the local registration process.

 As a physician who regularly treats stroke patients, I see this as an important advance. The new medication could simplify a critical stage of emergency treatment, allowing medical teams to focus more quickly on the next steps needed to save brain tissue. A stroke occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is disrupted. Approximately 90% of cases are ischemic strokes, caused by a blood clot blocking an artery. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to deteriorate, producing sudden symptoms such as weakness in an arm or leg on one side of the body, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, vision problems or an unusual loss of balance. One of the main treatments for acute ischemic stroke is thrombolysis, a medication that dissolves the clot and helps restore blood flow. It can be administered only after medical examination and brain imaging, which are essential, among other things, to rule out bleeding in the brain.