Hoth Therapeutics Inc (NASDAQ: HOTH) is adding HT-TBI to its platform. The company is developing the compound to treat brain inflammation, oedema and other secondary brain injuries caused by trauma or ischemic stroke.
HT-TBI could potentially be a drug that caregivers and patients with a high likelihood of experiencing a stroke could administer by themselves in emergencies. It could also find use in the military.
Ischemic stroke and traumatic brain injury
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and strokes are significant causes of disability and death worldwide. With an ischemic stroke, blood flow to the Brian is restricted. For this reason, the patient experiences cellular stress, which leads to brain injury and cell death. Ischemic strokes could cause life-long complications.
TBI, on the other hand, occurs when someone experiences mechanic and physical brain trauma. While this is a primary brain injury, it could result in severe oxidative damage, inflammation, and swelling.
Patients who experience either a TBI or ischemic stroke often don’t get medical attention early enough. Getting medical attention as soon as possible in these cases is vital as it could improve a patient’s outcome and injury severity.
The drug will ensure faster treatment
Past studies have proven that treating stroke patients within an hour and between 4 and 7 hours for TBI patients lowers their chances of developing a disability. While this might seem like plenty of time to get medical attention, it is not always the case. For instance, patients in the military or rural communities might have difficulty accessing hospitals.
According to Hoth Therapeutics, Chief Scientific Officer, Stefanie Johns, M.D., the company is developing HB-TBI to ensure patients get fast, reliable access to medication to avoid the complications of a secondary brain injury.
Johns points out that TBI and stroke often come about with no warning. For this reason, the drug could reduce communications by providing patients at high risk with medication they could use immediately if they experience these events. She adds that Hoth chose to lower the burden after realising how many people develop life-long complications for a TBI or ischemic stroke.
HT-TBI will be the second medication the company has developed to treat a neurologist disorder. The company is also developing HT-ALZ for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
