# Combination treatment with Vepoloxamer and tPA for acute stroke

> **NIH NIH R01** · HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM · 2021 · $329,219

## Abstract

Abstract
Stroke is one of leading causes of death and disability worldwide, mainly affecting elderly. Tissue plasminogen
activator (tPA), the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved treatment, is limited in its use to < 8.5% of
stroke patients. Therefore, there is a compelling need to develop new and broader utility therapies for acute
ischemic stroke. Vepoloxamer is a well characterized proprietary amphipathic copolymer with rheological
properties, which is currently under investigation in a global phase III clinical trial for patients with sickle cell
disease. Our preliminary studies demonstrate that administration of Vepoloxamer in combination with tPA 4h
after embolic stroke facilitates recanalization and thrombolysis reduces ischemic neuronal damage and
improves neurological outcome, but does not increase cerebral hemorrhage in young adult rats. We also found
that platelet-derived exosomes contribute to the therapeutic effect of Vepoloxamer on enhanced
tPA-thrombolysis. In this application, we propose to investigate effect of Vepoloxamer in combination with tPA
on acute stroke and molecular mechanisms underlying the combination therapy on the thrombolysis and
neurovascular function in the aged male and female rats. Data generated from this application may provide a
novel and potentially useful treatment strategy for patients with acute stroke.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10146495
- **Project number:** 5R01NS102744-05
- **Recipient organization:** HENRY FORD HEALTH SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** LI ZHANG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $329,219
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-06-01 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10146495

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10146495, Combination treatment with Vepoloxamer and tPA for acute stroke (5R01NS102744-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10146495. Licensed CC0.

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