The Chinese University's Faculty of Medicine said on Thursday that a commonly prescribed diabetes drug can improve recovery outcomes for severe stroke patients.

The drug, clinically known as GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA), has been found to provide a novel approach in protecting patients' brains after a stroke, potentially improving neurological recovery.

Presenting the study's findings, Bonaventure Ip, professor of therapeutics and medicine, said stroke patients who received the adjunctive GLP-1RA drug treatment saw good functional recovery.

"Among patient subgroups who did not receive intravenous thrombolysis before the therapy, patients who receive GLP-1RA actually had better neurological outcomes," he said.

"The rate of good neurological outcomes was 20 percent more in the GLP-1RA group compared to the standard therapy group."

Ip added the GLP-1RA adjunctive treatment can enhance patients' chances of a favourable neurological recovery.

"We found that GLP-1RA is good in maintaining neuronal survival during a stroke and the phase two study indicated preliminary evidence that GLP-1RA therapy might improve stroke patients' prognosis up to a 24-hour window.

"It could be a complementary medication among patients who might not be able to receiving intravenous thrombolysis for further neuroprotection," he said.

Ip added the study has paved the way for a larger phase three randomised trial to confirm the drug's neuroprotective potential.


Edited by Aaron Tam