Stroke patients treated with a novel neuroprotective medication called loberamisal within 48 hours of symptom onset showed significantly better functional recovery at 90 days compared to those receiving a placebo, according to preliminary findings from a Phase III clinical trial presented at the American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference 2026. The study, conducted across 32 centers in China, involved 998 adults aged 18 to 80 with moderate to severe ischemic strokes.
The trial found that 69% of participants treated with loberamisal achieved excellent functional recovery with little to no disability, compared to about 56% in the placebo group. Treatment involved a daily intravenous infusion of 40 mg of loberamisal for 10 days, starting within 48 hours of stroke onset. The medication was considered safe, with no increased risk of serious side effects or death compared to placebo. Study author Shuya Li, M.D., director of the Clinical Trial Center at Beijing Tiantan Hospital, noted that while neuroprotective agents aim to preserve neurovascular unit function, most previous trials have been unsuccessful, making these findings particularly noteworthy.
This research is important because stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide. According to the American Heart Association’s 2026 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics, stroke is now the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S. The American Stroke Association’s new 2026 Guideline for the Early Management of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke notes that neuroprotection has garnered renewed interest, though current knowledge gaps need addressing. Successful neuroprotective treatments could substantially reduce the burden of post-stroke disability, improving quality of life for millions and decreasing healthcare costs associated with long-term care.
The study has several limitations. It was conducted only in China, so results may not directly translate to other populations. Most participants had moderate to severe strokes, limiting applicability to those with more severe cases. Only about 17% received standard IV clot-busting medication like alteplase, and patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy were excluded, restricting assessment of combined treatments. No blood or imaging biomarkers were assessed, limiting understanding of loberamisal's mechanisms. Researchers emphasize the need for larger, more diverse trials. "We want to confirm our findings with larger groups of people, including people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, patients with more severe strokes and those who also have had vascular surgery," Li said. More information about the study is available in the abstract in the American Stroke Association International Stroke Conference 2026 Online Program Planner.
Functional outcomes were measured using the modified Rankin Scale, with scores of 0-1 indicating little to no disability. Assessments were conducted at 90 days via face-to-face interviews or standardized telephone questionnaires. The trial was multicenter, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled, conducted from July 2024 to April 2025. Participants had National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores between 7 and 20, indicating moderate to severe stroke. The findings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. Abstracts presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed but are curated by independent review panels. The Association's overall financial information is available here.
