Cyclin‐Dependent Kinase Inhibition With Roscovitine: Neuroprotection in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is the third most common cause of mortality and the leading cause of disability in industrialized country. According to population based–studies, ischemic stroke accounts for 67–80% of all strokes. 1 Thrombolysis is used during the acute phase in only 2–5% of ischemic patients. 2 Clinical trials of candidate neuroprotective agents have failed to identify viable therapies for ischemic stroke in humans. 3 There is therefore a great need for new therapeutic strategies, considering that not all brain cells die immediately after ischemic stroke. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2012); 91 2, 327–332. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2011.312