PHRI researchers are studying whether a widely used type 2 diabetes medication could help improve recovery after large vessel occlusion stroke, a severe form of stroke that blocks major arteries in the brain.
Even after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), a procedure to remove the blockage, many patients experience long-term functional impairments, such as difficulties with movement and sensation.
LEAST aims to test whether semaglutide, given by injection, can support recovery when started shortly after EVT in people who experience an acute ischemic stroke caused by large vessel occlusion. The study is led by Aristeidis Katsanos, PHRI scientist, alongside Mike Sharma and Ashkan Shoamanesh, PHRI senior scientists.
The study includes 100 adult patients treated at approximately 10 high‑volume stroke centres across Canada over one year. Within four hours of the thrombectomy procedure, participants are randomly assigned to receive either liraglutide or standard care. Those receiving the medication continue treatment for 13 weeks.
In this pilot study, researchers are focusing on recruitment, as well as the safety and tolerability of liraglutide in patients with large vessel stroke.
“In the LEAST trial we explore the feasibility of performing a larger study testing semaglutide, a medication widely used for diabetes and obesity, in improving recovery after stroke thrombectomy,” said Katsanos.
In 2025, the trial has received $851,063 in funding over five years from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
“This study could change how stroke patients are treated after EVT worldwide by offering a non-invasive and accessible intervention, improving long-term outcomes for millions of people affected by strokes each year.”
