'I thought I was going to die': stroke drug breakthrough for patients

The initial results of the clinical drug trial at Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital showed promising results that could lead to global change in stroke treatment.

Patients have shown improved recoveries in the restoration of speech and movement.

NSW Premier Chris Minns will attend an announcement of the trial results at the hospital on Wednesday.

Mr Minns said it was "great to have this groundbreaking research underway here in the Hunter".

Alan Johnson, 76, was among almost 30 patients to have been treated with the drug.

Mr Johnson suffered a severe stroke on February 13 that left him unable to speak or move.

"Honestly, I thought I was going to die," Mr Johnson said.

An ambulance took him to John Hunter Hospital, where doctors confirmed he had a severe ischemic stroke.

"I had a scan and they found two clots in my brain. They wanted to break up those clots to stop any damage occurring," Mr Johnson said.

Doctors told his family he was a candidate for biotech company Thrombio's clinical trial with an anti-clotting drug called TBO-309.

His wife gave approval for him to join the trial.

He was given the trial drug intravenously, along with a standard therapy.

The trial drug is designed to break down clots that impede blood flow to the brain during a stroke, while avoiding bleeding complications.

The drug mainly targets disease-causing clots, not the normal healthy clotting process, making it more precise and potentially safer.

"On the first day of the stroke, I couldn't talk or move my right arm and leg," Mr Johnson said.

"When I woke up the following morning in intensive care, I could lift my arm and leg off the bed.

"By the afternoon, I could lift my leg as high as I normally would. My arm recovered by the fourth day."

Mr Johnson was in hospital for only four days.

"The recovery was nothing short of miraculous. It's amazing," Mr Johnson said.

"In hindsight, the doctors and nurses are bloody magicians. I'm almost 100 per cent now. I'm enjoying life."

Normally, most stroke patients don't fully recover.

Mr Johnson is a member of Probus.

"I only missed one meeting. When I went to the next meeting, all the blokes said you don't look like you've had a stroke," he said.

Australian scientists have been developing the new stroke treatment for more than 30 years.

Initial trial results suggest it may significantly reduce long-term disability.

Professor Shaun Jackson, founder of Thrombio, said "what we're seeing in these early patients is ... the possibility of not just saving lives after stroke, but meaningfully improving how people recover".

The therapy is part of a phase two clinical trial, but the early results provide impetus for the next stage of the drug's development.

"If these results continue, this has the potential to change how stroke is treated - not just in Australia, but globally," Professor Jackson said.

Stroke is among Australia's leading causes of death and disability. About 46,000 people experience a stroke across the country each year.

The Hunter New England health district has almost 2000 cases of people hospitalised with stroke and 250 stroke deaths each year.

Researchers aim to expand the drug trial into more hospitals across Australia and through paramedics.

Newcastle has played a key role in trialling the drug.

Conjoint Professor Chris Levi, the principal investigator for the John Hunter trial, said there was "optimism about where this treatment could lead".

"For clinicians, seeing patients regain speech and movement so quickly is incredibly powerful," said Professor Levi, of the University of Newcastle's School of Medicine and Public Health.

"If these results continue, the priority will be expanding access.

"Earlier treatment has the potential to dramatically improve outcomes for many more stroke patients."

Health Minister Ryan Park said "this is exactly the kind of work we want happening in NSW".

"These early results are very promising. We look forward to working on ways this trial drug can reach more patients as quickly as possible," Mr Park said.

Minister for Medical Research David Harris said the trial was "a great example of what can be achieved" in Newcastle.

The trial results are attracting international interest.

Professor Parashkev Nachev, a neurologist at University College London, said the trial "represents an entirely new and innovative approach to the emergency treatment of stroke".

"The potential to transform stroke care is enormous," he said.