Atherosclerosis imaging in drug development

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Pharmacology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Established therapies complicate the evaluation of new antiatherosclerosis drugs.
• Extensive clinical trials with large patient numbers and long follow-up periods hinder drug development.
• Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the challenges in assessing experimental antiatherosclerotic agents.
• To explore the utility of advanced imaging techniques in clinical trials.
• To facilitate the development of novel therapies for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing technological advances in arterial wall imaging.
• Implementing clinical trial designs that incorporate serial imaging of the arterial wall.
• Evaluating the impact of therapies on the natural progression of atherosclerosis.

Main Results:

• Serial arterial wall imaging provides an efficient method for assessing antiatherosclerotic agents.
• This imaging approach can potentially reduce the duration and size of clinical trials.
• The use of imaging in trials is becoming increasingly prevalent in drug development.

Conclusions:

• Technological advancements in arterial wall imaging offer a viable solution to the challenges in developing new antiatherosclerosis treatments.
• Serial imaging facilitates a more efficient assessment of therapeutic efficacy.
• This methodology supports the advancement of treatments for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.