Arterial Diseases

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and other conditions caused by atherosclerosis are the number one killers of adults in industrialized countries. These diseases remain poorly treated and their results (heart attacks and strokes) devastate the lives of many individuals and families. New medicines are needed to prevent these terrible outcomes.

Coronary, peripheral, and cerebral artery diseases are all caused by atherosclerosis. Because atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that occurs throughout the entire arterial system, at different locations throughout the body, many patients can be diagnosed with one or more of the above conditions (see figure below).

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a subcategory of CAD and on a yearly basis it is responsible for well over 1 million North American hospitalizations. ACS encompasses clinical events such as angina and heart attacks. Patients that are diagnosed with ACS are often at the latter stages of CAD and thus these patients are highly motivated to seek aggressive and invasive treatments. This is supported by the tens of billions of dollars spent by government and health care organizations on acute procedures and treatments (see The Disease – Current Treatments and Market).

For a review of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease and other conditions please visit the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.