Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment (May 2022)

Tenecteplase in Ischemic Stroke: Challenge and Opportunity

  • Li G,
  • Wang C,
  • Wang S,
  • Xiong Y,
  • Zhao X

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 18
pp. 1013 – 1026

Abstract

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Guangshuo Li,1 Chuanying Wang,1 Shang Wang,1,2 Yunyun Xiong,1– 3,* Xingquan Zhao1,2,* 1Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 2China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, People’s Republic of China; 3Chinese Institute of Brain Research, Beijing, People’s Republic of China*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Xingquan Zhao, Department of Neurology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, West Nansihuan Road 119, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] Yunyun Xiong, China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, Email [email protected] of Review: Intravenous thrombolysis is the first-line therapy for ischemic stroke, and alteplase has been used as an intravenous thrombolysis drug for over 20 years. However, considering its low rate of recanalization and risk of intracerebral hemorrhage, alteplase may not be the optimal thrombolytic drug of choice for ischemic stroke. Tenecteplase (TNK) is a genetically engineered, mutant, tissue plasminogen activator that is a potential substitute to alteplase in ischemic stroke. The pharmacokinetic advantages of TNK include greater fibrin selectivity than alteplase and prolonged half-life time. In this review, we have summarized the clinical trials of TNK in ischemic stroke.Recent Findings: Clinical trials showed a higher recanalization rate of TNK over alteplase without increasing the rate of intracerebral hemorrhage. However, not all clinical trials showed superiority of TNK over alteplase in functional outcomes and early neurological improvement. TNK was superior to alteplase in terms of recanalization in patients who fulfilled the imaging mismatch criteria and in those planning to undergo mechanical thrombectomy.Summary: TNK has the potential to substitute alteplase for ischemic stroke therapy. Future TNK clinical trials that target functional outcomes are warranted.Keywords: stroke, thrombolysis, TNK-tissue plasminogen activator, tenecteplase, clinical trial

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