Nearly 300 Medicines in Development to Treat Two Leading Causes of Death: Heart Disease and Stroke
Drug discoveries played a major role in reducing American deaths from heart attacks and stroke by 28% between 1997 and 2007, yet cardiovascular disease still claims an American life every 39 seconds.
Working to reduce the toll further, America’s biopharmaceutical research companies are developing 299 medicines to prevent and treat heart disease and stroke, according to a new report released by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
The report demonstrates the wide range of medicines in development for cardiovascular disease. All medicines referenced are in clinical trials or awaiting Food & Drug Administration (FDA) review.
Medicines currently being studied are aimed both at preventing cardiovascular disease and treating the symptoms of those who already suffer from it. They include 43 for lipid disorders, such as high cholesterol, 36 for heart failure, 27 for high blood pressure, 17 for heart attacks, and 27 for stroke.
Many of the potential medicines use cutting-edge technologies and new scientific approaches. For example:
Human stem cells that restore cardiac function by forming new heart muscle.
A new anticoagulant that regulates clot formation to prevent deep vein thrombosis.
A gene therapy that uses a patient’s own cells to treat heart failure.
A medicine that blocks the transfer of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL).
These new medicines promise to continue the already remarkable progress
The IFPMA Clinical Trials Portal offers you tools to find Clinical Trials all over the world.
against heart disease and stroke and to raise the quality of life for patients suffering from these diseases. Read more about selected medicines in development for heart disease and stroke.
For the millions of Americans with heart disease, awareness and adherence to prescribed therapies are potential lifesavers. Many people can reduce their odds of heart attack and stroke by leading healthy lifestyles and, when necessary, taking medication to control high blood pressure and cholesterol. For example, only 48% of Americans with high blood pressure are aware of the condition and have it under control.
“We know that people who have been diagnosed with this disease and do not take their medications as prescribed are almost five times more likely to suffer from a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, dementia, or premature death,” added Ralph Brindis, M.D., President of the American College of Cardiology. “In order to maximize the potential of advancing science and newly developed drugs, we must continue identifying strategies that successfully help patients follow their treatment plans. This effort in itself has the potential to significantly improve the quality of care for cardiovascular disease and save another million lives every year.”
Prevention and treatment also can help control related healthcare costs. Last year, cardiovascular disease cost American society more than $503 billion, including treatment for those who have survived heart attacks and strokes. Moreover, the cost of treating heart disease is expected to triple in the next 20 years, due in large measure to the aging of America, according to a recent AHA report.
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