Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh and The Ohio State University utilized blood samples from stroke patients to test the efficacy of BB-031, an RNA aptamer. The findings indicate that the therapy prevents von Willebrand Factor from recruiting platelets to clot surfaces, a mechanism that frequently renders arterial clots resistant to existing fibrinolytics. In laboratory simulations, the candidate reopened occluded channels even after clots had matured for up to six hours, outperforming traditional treatments in the model.

This research provides mechanistic support for the ongoing Phase 2 RAISE trial, which is currently enrolling approximately 180 patients across North America and Australia. Unlike standard therapies restricted by a 4.5-hour window, BB-031 is designed to be paired with a reversal agent, BB-025, which can neutralize the drug within minutes if surgical intervention or bleeding management becomes necessary. This safety profile aims to address the limitations of current care, which reaches only a small fraction of the 15 million people who suffer strokes annually.