Researchers in Hong Kong have developed a nasal spray for treating stroke.
A research team at the University of Hong Kong has announced the development of a nasal spray that can be used as emergency treatment for ischemic stroke. This is reportedly the world's first such nasal spray.
HKUMed develops world-first nasal spray as potential prehospital emergency aid for ischemic stroke, animal studies show reduction in brain damage, clinical trials in the pipeline - Press Releases - Media - HKU
Hong Kong researchers develop 'world-first' nasal spray for rapid stroke aid | South China Morning Post
The newly developed nasal spray delivers a drug called 'NanoPowder.' When NanoPowder comes into contact with nasal mucus, it forms a certain mass, travels along the pathway from the nose to the brain, bypasses the blood-brain barrier, and reaches the brain directly. Conventional drugs that target the central nervous system cannot cross the blood-brain barrier, resulting in reduced therapeutic effects, but this drug is said to be able to deliver the drug efficiently.
Professor Aviva Chow Xingfang of the development team explains that current treatments, such as thrombectomy and intravenous administration of tissue plasminogen activators to dissolve blood clots, can only be performed in hospitals, and even when treatment is successful, more than half of patients do not achieve sufficient functional recovery.
Animal studies have shown that administering a nasal spray within 30 minutes of stroke onset can reduce ischemic infarction by more than 80% and effectively protect neurological and motor functions.
In Hong Kong, approximately 25,000 new strokes occur annually, 80% of which are ischemic strokes caused by blood clots blocking blood vessels in the brain. In mainland China, 4.1 million new cases are reported annually, and 25 million people suffer from stroke-related disabilities.
Dr. Xiao Zitong, who led the research, said, 'Currently, there are no emergency neuroprotective drugs that can be used before arriving at the hospital, and stroke treatment is a race against time. This spray was developed to meet that need. With this spray, patients can receive early neuroprotection while on their way to the hospital, significantly slowing the death of brain cells in an ischemic state and freeing up valuable time for subsequent treatment.'
This nasal spray won the 'Special Grand Prize for the Chinese Delegation' and the 'Special Jury Prize' at the 51st Geneva International Invention Fair. Dr. Xiao said, 'Given its role as an emergency treatment for common illnesses such as stroke, I expect it to receive priority review from the authorities and be approved and registered as a medicine within 5 to 7 years.'
The research team plans to begin clinical trials by 2030.
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