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A DRUG that talks cells out of committing suicide promises to reduce the
brain damage caused by strokes.

The compound, called AM-36, will shortly undergo human trials in Britain.
Tests in rats suggest it could reduce brain damage by as much as half if given
within six hours of a stroke.

The six-hour window is very important because many people who have just had a
stroke think it’s a headache and don’t get to hospital for at least 3 hours,
says Jennifer Callaway of Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. Her team
discovered AM-36 in collaboration with biotech companies AMRAD of…

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