Editorial Cardiovascular & Renal: Anti-atherosclerotic patents following the success of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors

Abstract

The success of recent clinical trials with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors presents a major challenge to those attempting to develop novel anti-atherosclerotic therapies. The effect of these results on patenting activity will only emerge over the next few years. This Editorial reviews claimed mechanisms for anti-atherosclerotic patents between 1993 and 1995 and aims to provide a baseline for future analyses. It is already apparent that interests in the thrombotic aspects of atherosclerosis and events at the artery wall are gaining increasing attention.