Semaglutide Investigated for Neuroprotection in Acute Large Vessel Occlusion Stroke Post-Endovascular Treatment

Acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke is a severe form of ischemic stroke, often leading to significant disability or death. While endovascular treatment (EVT) has revolutionized care by achieving reperfusion, a substantial proportion of patients still experience poor neurological outcomes due to reperfusion injury and ongoing neuronal damage. There is a critical unmet need for effective neuroprotective drugs that can mitigate this damage and improve functional recovery post-EVT. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, like semaglutide, have demonstrated neuroprotective properties in preclinical models, making them a promising candidate for this therapeutic gap.

The GALLOP-2 study (NCT06788626) is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint Phase 3 clinical trial. It plans to enroll an estimated 390 participants with acute LVO stroke undergoing EVT. The experimental arm will receive Semaglutide 0.5 mg via injection before (Day 0) and 1 week (Day 7) after EVT. The comparator arm will receive standard medical management, including antiplatelet drugs and anticoagulation as per national guidelines. The primary endpoint will likely focus on functional neurological outcomes at 90 days, assessed by a blinded endpoint committee.

This is a planned Phase 3 clinical trial (GALLOP-2, NCT06788626) that is not yet recruiting participants, with an estimated start date of February 2025 and completion by February 2028. Therefore, no findings or results are available at this time. The study aims to investigate the potential neuroprotective effects of semaglutide in patients who have undergone endovascular treatment for acute large vessel occlusion stroke. Future results will determine if semaglutide can significantly improve patient outcomes.