Coronary artery disease develops when plaques build up inside the arteries that supply the heart, narrowing blood flow and raising the risk of heart attack. It remains the leading cause of death worldwide, but research is advancing on both prevention and recovery — from new cholesterol-lowering drugs to procedures that restore blood flow.
What's actually going on in research
Gene silencing therapies that lower LDL cholesterol to extremely low levels with twice-yearly injections are in large trials, potentially replacing daily pills for high-risk patients. Researchers are also testing anti-inflammatory drugs targeting specific pathways that drive plaque instability, building on evidence that inflammation — not just cholesterol — is a key driver of heart attacks. Imaging-guided procedures and drug-coated devices are being refined to reduce repeat blockages after stent placement.
Gene silencing for cholesterol
Inclisiran and similar RNA-interference drugs lower LDL cholesterol dramatically with just two injections a year, and trials are testing whether this translates to fewer heart attacks and strokes.
Anti-inflammatory therapy
Drugs targeting the IL-6 and IL-1 inflammatory pathways are being tested to reduce plaque rupture risk in patients with high inflammation markers even after cholesterol is controlled.
Imaging-guided intervention
Trials are using advanced imaging inside coronary arteries to guide stent placement more precisely, with the goal of reducing restenosis and the need for repeat procedures.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on LDL levels, prior cardiovascular events, imaging findings, kidney function, and current medications.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new medications, stenting approaches, or surgical techniques to restore coronary blood flow.
- Prevention trials — Testing lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, or lifestyle interventions to prevent first or repeat heart attacks.
- Device trials — Evaluating new stent designs, imaging catheters, or cardiac monitoring technologies.
- Cardiac rehabilitation trials — Testing structured exercise and behavioral programs to improve recovery and reduce future events.
- Observational studies — Tracking outcomes in large populations to understand risk factors and long-term treatment effectiveness.
Recently added Coronary Artery Disease trials
Online Personalized Psychological Intervention for Patients With Heart Disease and Depression or Anxiety (MY-CHOICE)
The goal of this feasibility study is to assess if the personalised online psychological intervention MY-CHOICE is acceptable to adults with ischemic heart disease and anxiety or depression. It will also examine the reasons for drop-out. The main questions the study aims to answer are: How many participants complete the intervention and what are the reasons for drop-out. And what are the pre-post change scores on anxiety and depression. Participants will: Complete the MY-CHOICE intervention consisting of 6-12 weeks with online modules on various topics based on individual needs in combination with video- or telephone calls with a therapist (psychologist or a trained master student in Psychology) on a need-to basis. Answer a set of questionnaires pre and post intervention. Participate in a brief interview post intervention.
Bern Intracoronary Optical Coherence Tomography and Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Registry
Bern Intracoronary Optical Coherence Tomography and Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Registry (BIOCORE) is a systematic institutional registry on patients undergoing paired CCTA and OCT for validation and development of advanced methods to determine coronary plaque morphology, lesion severity, PCI guidance, and it association with long-term clinical outcomes.
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