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tPA
tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) converts plasminogen to plasmin, which breaks down fibrin clots to restore blood flow.
tPA (tissue plasminogen activator) converts plasminogen to plasmin, which breaks down fibrin clots to restore blood flow. Used for Acute ischemic stroke (within 4.5 hours of symptom onset), Acute myocardial infarction, Pulmonary embolism.
At a glance
| Generic name | tPA |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Tissue plasminogen activator, tissue plasminogen activator, alteplase, Actilyse®, Activase |
| Sponsor | Life Recovery Systems |
| Drug class | Fibrinolytic agent / Thrombolytic |
| Target | Plasminogen (converts to plasmin) |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Cardiovascular |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
Mechanism of action
tPA is a serine protease that binds to fibrin in blood clots and catalyzes the conversion of plasminogen to plasmin, a potent fibrinolytic enzyme. Plasmin then degrades the fibrin matrix that holds the clot together, dissolving the thrombus and restoring perfusion. This mechanism makes tPA effective for acute thromboembolic conditions where rapid clot dissolution is critical.
Approved indications
- Acute ischemic stroke (within 4.5 hours of symptom onset)
- Acute myocardial infarction
- Pulmonary embolism
Common side effects
- Intracranial hemorrhage
- Major bleeding
- Minor bleeding
- Reperfusion arrhythmias
- Hypotension
Key clinical trials
- Neuronavigation-assisted Stereotactic Minimally Invasive Puncture With Tenecteplase for Acute Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage (PHASE3)
- Treatment of Acute Ischemic Stroke (ReMEDy2 Trial) (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Efficacy and Safety of Intra-arterial Tenecteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients With Medium Vessel Occlusion Stroke (DATE-MeVO) (PHASE3)
- Tenecteplase Before Interhospital Transfer in Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion at 4.5 to 24 Hours (PHASE4)
- Tenecteplase Before Interhospital Transfer for EVT in Acute Anterior Circulation LVO at 4.5-24 Hours (PHASE3)
- Precision Reperfusion Therapy for Disabling Minor Stroke With Large Vessel Occlusion Beyond Time Window (PHASE3)
- A Study to Test if Tenecteplase Helps People to Recover From an Acute Stroke When Given More Than 4.5 Hours After the Person Was Last Seen Well (PHASE3)
- Unknown Time of Onset Stroke RePerfusIon Without Advanced Imaging (PHASE3)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- tPA CI brief — competitive landscape report
- tPA updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Life Recovery Systems portfolio CI