A substance developed by a Korean research team that may be used to treat strokes has passed an early clinical trial in the United States.

A Korean research team led by Ajou University's Gwag Byoung-joo said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had shown its safety and effectiveness. The U.S. agency released its findings after conducting phase-one clinical tests of the material, which is based on aspirin and sulfasalazine, an anti-inflammatory agent.

Gwag said the tests found that the new substance effectively blocked the destruction of brain cells.

He said the FDA's findings are significant, as many efforts to develop stroke medications have failed mainly due to safety reasons.

Phase-one clinical trials are usually the first stage in drug testing to involve human subjects.