Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the world’s leading research-driven pharmaceutical companies, has announced that the blood clot-dissolving medicine Metalyse® (tenecteplase) has been approved in Singapore for the thrombolytic treatment of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) approved it for the treatment of adults with AIS within 4.5 hours from last known well.
Globally, AIS is one of the leading causes of death and long-term disability. In Singapore it is the fourth leading cause of death, accounting for 5.8% of deaths, with 8.2% of stroke cases occurring in those below 50 years. Quick treatment is critical in the first hours after the onset of stroke symptoms to restore blood flow to the brain and increase the likelihood of improved outcomes and long-term independence for patients.
The HSA approval was based on evidence that included results from the large, independent AcT (Intravenous Alteplase compared to Tenecteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke) trial which showed that tenecteplase, at the dosage of 0.25 mg/kg, increases the likelihood that people can live independently after experiencing an acute stroke.
In 2023, the European Stroke Organisation published an expedited recommendation for the use of tenecteplase as an alternative to alteplase, the current standard treatment, suggesting tenecteplase may be favoured over the latter due to its ease of administration. Tenecteplase is administered as a single injection over 5 to 10 seconds within 4.5 hours of last known well, eliminating the 1-hour infusion time needed to administer alteplase. As tenecteplase is much quicker and easier for healthcare professionals to administer than alteplase, it has the potential to improve hospital efficiency and save healthcare resources.
