Major clinical trial of groundbreaking stroke therapy on brink of collapse

A major clinical trial that holds promise to treat stroke is on the brink of collapse as the leading scientist who developed a groundbreaking anticlotting drug levels serious accusations against his former employer, one of Sydney’s leading medical research institutes.

Professor Shaun Jackson from the Heart Research Institute and University of Sydney. Picture: Kat Stanley Photography

A major human clinical trial that holds promise to improve the outcomes for stroke sufferers is on the brink of collapse as the leading scientist who developed a groundbreaking anticlotting drug levels serious accusations against his employer, one of Sydney’s leading medical research institutes.

Shaun Jackson, a clinician and the lead researcher in the clinical trial testing the drug named TBO-309, which has shown the potential to improve blood flow to the brain by busting clots and reducing the risk of brain injury caused by strokes, is accusing the Heart Research Institute of victimising him and engaging in misleading and deceptive conduct in an claim filed in the Federal Court.

It is understood the Heart Research Institute, where Professor Jackson is employed as the Director of Cardiovascular Research and the Thrombosis Group lead, is disputing Professor Jackson’s claims in the Federal Court including that he was victimised for making a whistleblower complaint.

The drug was developed in Australia over 25 years by Professor Jackson and colleagues including Associate Professor Simone Schoenwaelder and the clinical trials is funded by an Australian government’s Medical Reearch Future Fund grant.

The anticlotting drug developed by Professor Jackson has been described as potentially the biggest gamechanger in stroke treatment in 30 years.

Professor Jackson will allege in court that he made a whistleblower complaint in relation to governance issues during the course of his employment at the HRI, and was victimised as a result.

The anticlotting drug TBO-309, developed at the HRI which is an independent medical research institute, is currently in Phase II human studies.

The drug is showing potential to improve blood flow to the brain without causing excessive bleeding, reducing the risk and preventing brain injury. It could be a watershed in advancing the traditional methods of treating ischaemic stroke, improving the quality of life for thousands of stroke sufferers.

It is understood Professor Jackson and the HRI have undertaken mediation which has not been successful. Professor Jackson is yet to file a statement of claim to lay out the full extent of his allegations.