title: Clinical trials of neuroprotective therapies.
abstract: There have been numerous failures in the field of acute stroke therapy over many years, but the first large clinical trial showing preliminary indications of efficacy and safety of a neuroprotective drug, NXY-059, has now been fully reported. If confirmed, it will mean that a second therapy for acute stroke has been identified and neuroprotective drug development as a class can proceed. Additionally, a new class of drugs, HMG CoA-reductase inhibitors (statins), specifically high-dose atorvastatin, has been shown to be safe and effective for secondary stroke prevention. This drug should now become a regular part of stroke patient care.
authors.affiliation: University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0624, USA. jzivin@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: Justin A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zivin
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents