Without treatment with rt-PA, one-third of people who have a stroke die and another third are left permanently dependent and disabled.

BBC: Brain

The study involved stroke patients in 12 countries between 2000 and 2011, half of whom were treated with intravenous rt-PA and half were not.

BBC: Brain

In 2002 rt-PA was given an EU licence on condition it was used on patients under 80 within three hours of them having an ischaemic stroke.

BBC: Brain

For every 1, 000 patients given rt-PA within three hours of stroke, 80 more will survive and live without help from others than if they had not been given the drug, according to the research.

BBC: Brain