Stroke is a condition that affects the arteries leading to and within the brain. A stroke occurs when blood flow is impaired by a blockage (clot) or rupture (hemorrhage) of an artery to the brain. Approximately 795,000 strokes occur in the United States each year1. Stroke represents the third leading cause of death in the United States behind cancer and cardiovascular disease1. Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability, currently impacting over three million Americans with an economic burden to the U.S. healthcare system of $73.3 billion dollars each year1. Approximately 87% of all strokes are ischemic in nature, meaning they are the result of a blood clot forming in one or more of the cerebral arteries1. Activase® (Alteplase, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator or tPA) is currently the only drug approved for the treatment of ischemic stroke. Based on the limited treatment options, ischemic stroke is recognized worldwide as one of the most significant unmet medical needs facing our medical community.
