An experimental stroke treatment designed to copy a protein found in vampire bat saliva has been put on hold because of potential safety problems.
Forest Laboratories decided to stop enrolling patients in a study of the compound desmoteplase as a treatment for stroke until further data have been analyzed. Desmoteplase is a genetically engineered version of a clot-dissolving protein found in the saliva of the vampire bat Desmodus rotundus. The compound aims to capitalize on the bat saliva's ability to prevent the blood of its prey from clotting, keeping blood flowing as it feeds.
You can sink your teeth into the complete article by going here.
