Our list of the most popular stories from last month is dominated by first-time data releases from the International Stroke Conference (ISC; 7–9 February, Phoenix, USA), with the red-hot topic of liquid embolic use in subdural haematoma (SDH) patients and the latest studies involving novel mechanical thrombectomy approaches featuring prominently. Major announcements from emerging stroke care companies like Ceroflo and Basking Biosciences also piqued the interest of many NeuroNews readers throughout February.
1. MMA embolisation plus surgery reduces risk of subdural haematoma recurrence in EMBOLISE study
Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolisation—the injection of a liquid embolic substance to block an artery feeding the brain’s dura—along with surgery for subacute or chronic SDH has been found to reduce the risk of patients requiring repeat surgery, as compared to surgical drainage alone, in the EMBOLISE clinical trial. This finding was delivered at ISC 2024 within a preliminary late-breaking science session.
2. Dual-stent retriever strategy demonstrates promise in TWIN2WIN clinical trial
Late-breaking findings from the TWIN2WIN trial, presented recently at ISC 2024, have demonstrated the potential benefits of performing mechanical thrombectomy procedures using two stent retrievers (SRs) simultaneously. The trial compared a first-line dual-SR strategy to a traditional single-SR technique across more than 100 acute ischaemic stroke patients, and found improved recanalisation rates as well as no safety concerns with the more novel of the two approaches.
3. Ceroflo raises €6.4 million to aid progress of novel ICAD stroke treatment
Irish medical device firm Ceroflo announced that it has raised €6.4 million in investment-round funding, which will be used to advance development of the company’s SubMax device—a novel stent intended to “revolutionise” intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) treatments. In a press release, Ceroflo reports that these funds will help support first-in-human clinical trials of its innovative stroke technology across 30 patients.
4. ZODIAC trial reveals clinical benefits of zero-degree head positioning prior to stroke thrombectomy
Laying large vessel occlusion (LVO) ischaemic stroke patients flat with their heads at a zero-degree angle prior to a mechanical thrombectomy procedure has resulted in significant short-term improvements in neurological function, as compared to patients whose heads were elevated at a 30-degree angle, in the randomised ZODIAC trial. Researchers are keen to impress, however, that zero-degree head positioning is “a rescue manoeuvre, not a treatment” in stroke, serving as a way to preserve brain function by optimising blood flow until the thrombectomy can be performed.
5. STEM study finds improved outcomes with MMA embolisation over standard care in cSDH
Recently presented results from the STEM randomised controlled trial (RCT) have demonstrated improved outcomes with MMA embolisation plus standard management—as compared to standard management alone—in patients with chronic SDH.
6. Medtronic announces first neurointerventional case with CE-marked Rist 6Fr radial access catheter
Medtronic has announced the first neurointerventional case in Europe with its Rist 6Fr radial access catheter, which recently received regulatory approval for use in European Union (EU) countries and other geographies accepting a CE mark.
7. Basking Biosciences closes US$55 million financing to further reversible stroke thrombolytic
Basking Biosciences has announced the close of US$55 million in financing, which will be used to accelerate clinical development of its novel thrombolytic therapy for acute stroke.
8. SNIS acknowledges “major shift” in chronic SDH treatment following new trial data
In an official statement, the Society of Neurolnterventional Surgery (SNIS) has acknowledged MMA embolisation as a beneficial adjunctive treatment for chronic SDH. This follows the presentation of new research at ISC 2024 indicating that minimally invasive MMA embolisation procedures significantly reduce failure rates associated with traditional surgical and non-surgical management strategies without leading to an increased rate of serious neurological complications.
9. New UK NICE guidance endorses AI-derived software in stroke assessments
A new guidance document from the UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has endorsed National Health Service (NHS) deployment of two artificial intelligence (AI)-derived software technologies to support the review and reporting of computed tomography (CT) brain scans in patients with suspected stroke.
10. Cerenovus launches next-generation Cereglide 71 catheter for ischaemic stroke revascularisation
Cerenovus, part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, has announced the launch of its Cereglide 71 device—a next-generation intermediate catheter with TruCourse technology indicated for the revascularisation of patients suffering from acute ischaemic stroke. The device is now commercially available in the USA.
