In the present prospective, multicentric, randomized, double-blind, parallel, saline-controlled phase II clinical study; the investigators plan to evaluate the efficacy of sovateltide (IRL-1620 or PMZ-1620) therapy along with standard supportive care in patients of acute ischemic stroke.

The peptide Sovateltide (IRL-1620) is a highly selective ETB receptor agonist. There are hidden stem cells in the brain, which becomes active following injury to the brain. Intravenous administration of PMZ-1620 (sovateltide) augments the activity of neuronal progenitor cells in the brain to repair the damage by formation of new mature neurons and blood vessels. In addition, PMZ-1620 has anti-apoptotic activity and also increases cerebral blood flow when administered following ischemia. It was discovered that in rat model of ischemic stroke, sovateltide, significantly improved survival, reduces neurological and motor function deficit while effectively decreasing infarct volume, edema and oxidative stress. The convincing results of preclinical efficacy studies of Sovateltide in ischemic stroke and its safety affirmation from phase I and phase II clinical studies encouraged us to investigate its efficacy in human patients of ischemic stroke. In the present prospective, multicentric, randomized, double-blind, parallel, saline-controlled phase II clinical study; the investigators plan to evaluate the efficacy of Sovateltide therapy along with standard supportive care in patients of acute ischemic stroke.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adult males or females Aged 18 years through 78 years (have not had their 79th birthday).
2. Patient or Legally Authorized Representative willing to give informed Consent before study procedure.
3. Stroke is ischemic in origin and radiologically confirmed Computed Tomography (CT) scan or diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prior to enrolment. No hemorrhage as proved by cerebral CT/MRI scan.
4. Cerebral ischemic stroke patients presenting upto 24 hours after onset of symptoms with mRS score of 3-4 (pre-stroke mRS score of 0 or 1) and NIHSS score >5 (NIHSS Level of Consciousness (1A) score must be < 2). This also includes patients who had ischemic stroke in the past and are completely recovered from earlier episode before having new or fresh stroke.
5. Patient is < 24 hours from time of stroke onset when the first dose of PMZ-1620 therapy is administered. Time of onset is when symptoms began; for stroke that occurred during sleep, time of onset is when patient was last seen or was self- reported to be normal.
6. Reasonable expectation of availability to receive the full PMZ-1620 course of therapy, and to be available for subsequent follow-up visits.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients receiving endovascular therapy or is a candidate for any surgical intervention for treatment of stroke which may include but not limited to endovascular techniques.
2. Patients classified as comatose, defined as a patient who required repeated stimulation to attend, or is obtunded and requires strong or painful stimulation to make movements (NIHSS Level of Consciousness (1A) score ≥ 2).
3. Evidence of intracranial hemorrhage (intracerebral hematoma, intraventricular hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, epidural hemorrhage, acute or chronic subdural hematoma on the baseline CT or MRI scan.
4. Known pregnancy.
5. Confounding pre-existing neurological or psychiatric disease.
6. Concurrent participation in any other therapeutic clinical trial.
7. Evidence of any other major life-threatening or serious medical condition that would prevent completion of the study protocol, impair the assessment of outcome, or in which PMZ-1620 therapy would be contraindicated or might cause harm to the patient.

Results will be communicated and published as manuscript