Use of desmoteplase for the manufacture of a medicament for treating stroke in a patient, wherein said patient, prior to treatment, is selected for exhibiting the following criteria at baseline: a) a cerebral artery occlusion b) a NIHSS score of at least 4 c) a TIMI grade of 1 or O. d) the acute infarction does not involve more than about 1/3 of MCA or substantially the entire ACA or PCA territory and/or e) the absence of ICH, SAH, AV malformation, cerebral aneurysm or cerebral neoplasm.