Stroke is a devastating and debilitating disease.  Approximately 15 million people worldwide suffer from strokes each year.  Globally, stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability and the second leading cause of death.

There are two major types of stroke: ischemic and hemorrhagic.  Ischemic strokes occur when blood vessels in the brain become blocked or narrowed by clots, while hemorrhagic strokes result when blood vessels leak or rupture.

To date, stroke therapies have focused on “neuroprotection” – limiting neuronal cell death after stroke. For ischemic stroke this involves either dissolving or surgically removing clots from the blocked vessels to allow blood to recirculate.  To be effective, such treatments must be administered in the first few hours after the stroke.  Patients who suffer from hemorrhagic strokes may get surgery or endovascular therapy, along with antihypertensive and anti-seizure drugs to control bleeding, pressure and seizures.

Currently, there are no treatments available that promote recovery in the hours and days following a stroke. Some patients experience spontaneous recovery, demonstrating that recovery is possible even after neuronal cell death.

Elevian is developing a recombinant protein called rGDF11 that has been demonstrated to facilitate recovery of motor function in well-established animal models of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. rGDF11 promotes neovascularization (new blood vessel formation), stimulates neurogenesis (new neuron formation), and reduces inflammation. The effects of rGDF11 seem to be independent of the type of injury (clots vs. bleeds).

The beneficial effects of rGDF11 are not limited to stroke. rGDF11 has been demonstrated to promote recovery and regeneration in several preclinical models of aging-related diseases, including cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic, pulmonary, renal, inflammatory, and skeletal muscle dysfunction.