Novel Therapeutics and Upcoming Clinical Trials Targeting Inflammation in Cardiovascular Diseases | Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major health burden despite significant therapeutic advances accomplished over the last decades. It is widely and increasingly recognized that systemic inflammation not only represents a major cardiovascular risk and prognostic factor but also plays key pathogenic roles in CVD development and progression. Despite compelling preclinical evidence suggesting large potential of anti-inflammatory pharmacological interventions across numerous CVDs, clinical translation remains incomplete, mainly due to (1) yet undefined molecular signaling; (2) challenges of safety and efficacy profile of anti-inflammatory drugs; and (3) difficulties in identifying optimal patient candidates and responders to anti-inflammatory therapeutics, as well as optimal therapeutic windows. Randomized controlled trials demonstrated the safety/efficacy of canakinumab and colchicine in secondary cardiovascular prevention, providing confirmation for the involvement of a specific infl
