Protein Drug Found to Aid Stroke Recovery

A new protein drug candidate has been shown to improve motor function after a stroke even when it is delivered intravenously into the bloodstream 24 hours later. This result was reported in the February 2003 issue of Stroke.

The drug candidate, called BMP-7, was earlier shown to promote functional recovery when administered up to three days after a stroke when injected directly into the cerebrospinal fluid. Developed by Curis, Inc. (Cambridge, MA, USA), the drug candidate has been licensed to Ortho Biotech (Bridgewater, NJ, USA) for neurologic, renal, and other therapeutic indications. Ortho Biotech is a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson.

"The prospect that BMP-7's stroke recovery effects may be obtained by intravenous delivery instead of direct injection into the brain represents a significant step forward in the development of this promising drug candidate,” said Daniel Passeri, president and CEO of Curis.




Related Links:
Curis
Ortho Biotech