Cardiovascular Disease - Vulnerable Plaque

There are approximately 15 million people in the United States, and we believe similar numbers in Europe, with atherothrombotic cardiovascular disease. This condition is characterized by the build-up of fatty deposits called atherosclerotic plaque in the walls of blood vessels. The rupture of this plaque can cause the formation of a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood to the heart or the brain, often resulting in a heart attack or stroke. Because there is no specific, non-invasive diagnostic test to determine whether a patient has atherosclerotic plaque that is vulnerable to rupture, these events usually occur without any warning. As part of the HRP initiative, we are working on the discovery and validation of novel biomarkers for predicting a patient’s risk of acute atherothrombosis.