Australian scientists have invented a new type of clot-busting drug that could save heart attack and stroke victims in an emergency.
The drug, which is designed for use in ambulances and emergency departments, targets the clot rather than the whole circulatory system.
This means a relatively low dose is effective, making it suitable for tens of thousands of Australians at risk from bleeding and other side-effects.
The research is published in the journal Circulation Research, but clinical trials are needed before it is available to doctors. This could take five years.
"When it is fully developed all patients will be able to be treated more safely," said lead researcher Dr Christoph Hagemeyer of the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.
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Around 55,000 Australians have a heart attack and 50,000 suffer a stroke every year, according to 2012 figures.
The current clot-busting treatments were not suitable for a large proportion of these, said the Heart Foundation's Professor James Tatoulis.
"It's a real breakthrough.
"In a large country like Australia the risk of dying increases the more isolated a person is."
Clot-busting drugs had been around for about 20 years, but were dangerous for about half of the people who needed them, said Prof Tatoulis.
Most at risk were frail and elderly people, those with stomach ulcers or who were already on blood thinners like warfarin.
"This is an important Australian research initiative that has the potential to save thousands of lives."
It also had the potential to prevent the devastating disability that could be caused by a stroke, he said.
