New hope for patients at high risk of recurrences of heart disease

Washington, May 20 (ANI): Canadian researchers have confirmed the potential of a medication to reduce inflammation in patients with atherosclerosis.

The results of the clinical study, directed by Dr. Jean-Claude Tardif of the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI), have appeared in the journal Circulation Cardiovascular Imaging.

The promising findings of this study on VIA-2291 - a medication developed by Via Pharmaceuticals, a San Francisco-based biotechnology firm - relate to its capacity to effectively reduce inflammation, which can contribute to the formation and progression of atherosclerosis plaque and infarct.

Dr. Tardif said: "Up to now, standard treatments for patients with acute coronary syndrome (unstable angina and infarct) have not specifically reduced inflammation, an important component of atherosclerosis. However, research in recent years has allowed us to determine that the presence of inflammation significantly increases the risk of recurrence among these patients. The clinical study was conducted with about 200 patients, and the findings we're publishing show that VIA-2291 may finally offer the solution we need to target and reduce inflammation. In fact, these newly published data strongly support the evaluation of VIA-2291 in larger outcome trials."

The Montreal Heart Institute's Research Centre directed the study in several hospitals in Canada and the United States as well as analysed all of the data, including data collected by CAT scans of coronary arteries.

Dr. Tardif added: "The publication of this new study attests once again to the excellence of the entire team at the Montreal Heart Institute's Research Centre. While we're clearly satisfied with the findings obtained with VIA-2291, we're even more thrilled at the prospect of taking a big step toward more effective and personalized prevention of cardiovascular disease." (ANI)