Future requirement for arterial wall imaging modalities in the evaluation of novel anti-atherosclerotic therapies

Abstract

Background:

While arterial wall imaging has been used to characterize progression of atherosclerosis, there remain limitations to this approach.

Scope:

A selective overview of emerging modalities to image the artery wall and highlight how they may be used to evaluate emerging anti-atherosclerotic agents.

Findings:

Ongoing developments appear to enable assessment of composition and molecular properties of plaque in addition to quantitation of burden. Non-invasiveness and correlation with clinical outcome remains a challenge.

Conclusion:

New developments in imaging should enhance the ability to provide early characterization of the potential therapeutic efficacy of experimental agents.

Key words::

• Atherosclerosis
• Clinical trials
• Imaging
• Prevention
• Risk factors

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This was a commissioned article. No third-party funding was provided for writing or publication of the article.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

S.J.N. has disclosed that he has received honoraria or consulting fees from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Merck, Takeda, Roche, Esperion and Novo-Nordisk, and research support from AstraZeneca, Novartis, Eli Lilly and Resverlogix. A.L. has disclosed the sponsorship of Hospitals of Regina Foundation, Canada. K.U. and O.B. have no financial relationships to disclose.

Some peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. The peer reviewers of this paper have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.

Acknowledgment

The authors have disclosed that they had no outside editorial assistance in preparing this manuscript.