STROKE

Stroke is the third largest killer after heart disease and cancer in the Western world and the largest cause of disability, placing huge burdens on carers and healthcare systems. Stroke affects 2 million Americans (Ref: American Heart Association - AHA) with an estimated economic cost to the U.S. of $25 billion. A stroke occurs when blood circulation to the brain fails, causing brain cells to die from the resulting lack of oxygen. Pharmaceutical drug sales in the U.S. to treat stroke are currently worth $400 million, but with therapeutic advances, it is estimated that this market has the potential to grow to $6 billion in the U.S. by 2005. There is, therefore, a significant unmet clinical need for agents to treat stroke. ABS-205 offers the possibility of helping the brain recover from stroke damage due to its neurotrophic activity.