TRIBUNE-REVIEW (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) 01 July 08 Venom may aid victims of stroke (Patti Dobranski)
On a Sunday morning in January 2006, George Henderson settled down for a cup of coffee and a cigar in his Scottdale home.
A moment later, the 61-year-old was on the floor, unable to move his left arm and left leg because of a stroke.
Each year, around 780,000 people suffer a stroke, according to the American Stroke Association. And more often than not, as in Henderson's case, there are no warning signs.
The insidious nature of stroke is compounded by the three-hour window of opportunity for successful treatment.
But that may be changing, thanks to the venom of the Malayan pit viper.
Henderson, now 63, is participating in a clinical trial at Westmoreland Neurology Associates in Greensburg for Viprinex, a drug therapy derived from the venom, which could double the window of opportunity for treating stroke.
The Greensburg practice is one of 14 sites worldwide participating in this final phase of the clinical trial, which will continue through 2010.
Dr. Michael Sauter, who treated Henderson after his stroke, was selected to administer Viprinex because of his previous work with the drug 14 years ago in an initial study, according to Dr. Warren Wasiewski, vice president and chief medical officer for Neurobiological Technologies Inc., a new New Jersey company that produces Viprinex. He is overseeing the clinical trials.
"We look for stroke expertise. When I came on board, I was aware Dr. Sauter had participated in a study in 1994," Wasiewski said.
Early Viprinex studies showed it is safe and effective for as long as six hours after the first symptoms of a stroke. The current phase 3 trials are investigating whether the therapy can safely and effectively reduce the disability resulting from an ischemic stroke. Ischemic stroke happens when an artery in the brain is blocked, Wasiewski said.
Wasiewski said the Malayan pit vipers used to make Viprinex are native to Southeast Asia but are being bred in a sterile facility in Germany.
The vipers' venom contains Ancrod, an enzyme that reduces blood levels of fibrinogen, the primary protein involved in blood clotting, according to Neurobiological Technologies. The enzyme acts as an anticoagulent and also reduces blood viscosity, which may improve blood flow to the affected areas of the brain, according to the company.
At Sauter's West Pittsburgh Street office, Henderson recalled the hours after his stroke when he was asked if he wanted to participate in the study.
"It was 5 1/2 hours into my stroke, and they were asking me if I wanted this snake venom. I was kind of out of it, so my wife, Jean, said, 'Go ahead and give it to him.'" he said.
Within 24 hours, Henderson was able to move his left side.
Because it is a double-blind study, neither Sauter nor Henderson knows definitively if he received the snake venom or a placebo. Considering his remarkable recovery, the doctor and his patient believe he did.
"I would be the first person in the country to receive the snake venom. Dr. Sauter called me 'the miracle man,' " Henderson said.
Henderson says he's "100 percent back" in good health today.
"All the credit goes to Doc Sauter. I also couldn't have done it without my wife, Jean, and my niece, Lisa Swartz."
Sauter said Henderson's health and attitude contributed to his recovery.
"He had two things going for him. He was in fairly robust health and stayed physically active."
Henderson became an avid walker. He not only regained full range of motion on his left side, he dropped 25 pounds.
"I walk every day after supper, no matter what the weather," he said. "I still can't believe I had a stroke."
Sauter's advice to his patients is always the same.
"Listen to your body. If it needs rest, get it." he said.
Patients interested in participating in the study may contact Sauter at 724-836-7450.
Venom may aid victims of stroke