Despite an incidence of over 1.7m in the seven major markets, the thrombolytic Activase (alteplase) is the only drug approved for ischemic stroke outside of Japan and has a three-hour therapeutic window, which means that only a minority of patients are eligible for therapy. Therefore, ischemic stroke is a potentially lucrative target market for pharmaceutical companies.

• Estimates the current and future incidence of acute ischemic stroke in the seven major markets

  
  

• Assesses the current status of therapy and identifies the unmet needs that companies with compounds in development for acute stroke should target

  
  

• Provides in-depth profiles of antithrombotics being trialed in acute ischemic stroke, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses in this indication

  
  

• Comparative assessment of antithrombotics in development for stoke, in relation to alteplase, in terms of satisfaction of unmet need and potential

  
  

With high unmet need and an estimated incidence of over 1.7m ischemic strokes in 2002 in the seven major markets alone, there is significant impetus for companies to trial agents in this indication. However, in order to realize the full potential of the market, time to presentation and treatment needs to be dramatically improved.

In terms of developing safe and effective therapies for ischemic stroke, the greatest obstacle lies in extending the therapeutic window from the currently limited three hours to at least six of 12 hours.

In the absence of regenerative therapy, companies need to look beyond conventional single drug approaches and investigate which combinations of drugs and/or devices can achieve the best possible results in acute ischemic stroke

• Identify strategies for increasing the patient potential of antithrombotics in development for stroke

  
  

• Identify the unmet needs that exist in the treament of acute ischemic stroke and the extent that are likely to be met over the coming years

  
  

• Understand which antithrombotics currently in development for acute ischemic stroke are the most promising and why

  
  

The last decade of clinical trials in acute ischemic stroke has been beset with failures, resulting in severely restricted therapeutic options for patients suffering from this condition and only one agent, the thrombolytic Activase (alteplase), currently available in the US. With an estimated incidence of over 1.7m ischemic strokes in 2002 in the seven major markets and high unmet need, there is significant impetus for companies to trial agents in this indication.

Overview and introduction to acute ischemic stroke, including Datamonitor’s estimates of the current and future forecasts for the incidence of acute ischemic stroke in the seven major markets

Definition of acute ischemic stroke

Analysis of time to presentation following onset of symptoms

Epidemiology data for acute ischemic stroke

Discussion of the current status of therapy in the seven major markets, reviewing completed and ongoing clinical trials for Activase (alteplase)

• Pharmacological therapy overview
  
  
  
• Profile of Activase (alteplase)
  
  
  
• Pharmacological versus non-pharmacological therapy
  
  
  

Identification of the unmet needs in the acute ischemic stroke market, including extension of the therapeutic window and availability of stroke therapies that restore lost function

Assessment of the different antithrombotics being trialed in acute ischemic stroke, including up-to-date reviews of information presented at the American Stroke Association’s 28th International Stroke Conference