A synthetic drug derived from the saliva of vampire bats holds promise for treatment of acute stroke.Believe it or not, that’s what researchers are reporting at the American Stroke Association’s annual meeting in San Diego on Feb. 5.The drug, called desmoteplase, appears to extend the time window for treatment of acute ischemic stroke. The study found the drug prevents stroke-related brain damage if it’s given to patients between three and nine hours after the onset of stroke symptoms. Currently, three hours is the standard window.
