In 1987, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Genentech’s drug tPA Activase (alteplase).  Activase is a tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) indicated for the treatment of: Acute Ischemic Stroke (AIS), Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) to reduce mortality and incidence of heart failure; and Acute Massive Pulmonary Embolism (PE) for lysis.