Xu Team Launches 1-Hour Stroke Cooling Trial After 32-Patient Study Fell Short
Updated
Updated · New Scientist · Jun 17
Xu Team Launches 1-Hour Stroke Cooling Trial After 32-Patient Study Fell Short
3 articles · Updated · New Scientist · Jun 17
Summary
A follow-up clinical trial will test whether infusing promethazine and chlorpromazine over 1 hour can cool stroke patients fast enough to limit brain damage.
In a 32-patient phase I study, the drug pair was safe but lowered body temperature by only 0.3°C over 12 hours and did not reduce stroke injury alongside standard clot-removal treatment.
Animal results were stronger: mice and rhesus monkeys showed lower core temperatures, suppressed glucose metabolism and less brain damage after induced strokes, while treated monkeys also used their limbs better.
Physical cooling methods such as blankets, ice packs and helmets have largely failed in stroke because they trigger discomfort and shivering, making drug-induced hypothermia a more practical route if faster dosing works.
This 'hibernation' drug for stroke was safe but ineffective in its first human trial. Can a faster infusion really unlock its potential?
A similar drug cocktail was abandoned decades ago for being too dangerous. How is this new stroke therapy any different?
Pharmacological Cooling in Stroke: Insights from the 2026 Beijing Study and the Path to Clinical Implementation
Overview
Scientists at the Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders are leading research into a new drug-induced hypothermia approach for treating acute ischemic stroke. This method aims to protect brain tissue by reducing metabolic demand and inflammation, which helps limit the extent of injury after a stroke. The urgent need for effective neuroprotective strategies drives this work, as current treatments are limited. By using pharmacological agents to control cooling, the team hopes to create a crucial window to preserve neurological function. Their ongoing efforts could pave the way for better emergency care in stroke and other critical conditions.