Magnetically Enhanced Diffusion for Intra-Arterial Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is the result of a blood clot in a cerebral artery. Currently, AIS remains a leading killer and the leading cause of long-term disability, which annually impacts nearly 700,000 Americans. Because brain tissue rapidly dies, time to reperfusion is critical in both preventing death and improving neurological outcomes. While economic burden associated with ischemic stroke are high in the United States (US), it is projected to increase from $72B in 2013 to $183B by 2030.Intravenous use of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the standard of care for AIS, with thrombectomy recommended for proximal large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation. This strategy results in improvements in long-term neurological outcomes over tPA alone. However, over half of thrombectomy-treated patients die or are left moderately-to-severely disabled, despite a majority achieving complete or partially- complete blood flow restoration. Inaccessible distal emboli post thrombectomy are a primary reason for poor outcomes, which result in incomplete flow in up to half of cases. Patients not achieving complete recanalization tend to be hospitalized longer, show weaker neurological improvements, have worse long-term neurological outcomes, and experience more hemorrhage, versus those with complete recanalization. No options currently exist for treating distal emboli given that current tools are too large and intra-arterial infusion of thrombolytic agents has shown limited-to-no success due to distal occlusions creating stagnant columns of blood proximal to the clot which restricts their diffusion to less than a few millimeters per hour.Pulse Therapeutics, Inc. (PTI) has made a breakthrough discovery using magnetic particles to adjunctively convey thrombolytic agents over 100X faster. In vitro and in vivo work confirm that this technology improves thrombolytic agent conveyance and clot lysis. It has also been shown that low doses of tenecteplase (TNK) are superior to tPA. This project’s aims are to develop the technology for an intra-arterial procedure in the treatment of AIS. For Phase I, benchtop, in vitro, and in vivo work will be conducted to demonstrate proof of concept and optimize TNK and particle dosing and therapy delivery. FDA feedback using Phase I results will be sought to improve Phase II aims. Phase II will assess the system’s impact on TNK pharmacokinetics and aggravation of hemorrhage. In addition, an angiography suite-compatible workstation will be developed and flow studies using neuro phantoms will be repeated under fluoroscopy to assess anticipated clinical workflow.Early FDA engagement indicates that the technology may be evaluated as a device given persuasive mode of action and biocompatibility preliminary studies. Importantly, the PTI technology supports the FDA’s mission to reinforce the value of comprehensive stroke centers and promises to improve care for the nearly 350,000 AIS victims showing visible clot in the anterior circulation. If successful, this technology would represent the first drug delivery nanotechnology approved as a medical device in the US.