title: Investigational new drugs for the treatment of acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of death worldwide. Despite improvements in interventional and pharmacological therapy for acute coronary syndrome (ACS), the risk of recurrent myocardial ischemia and mortality early after ACS remains high. Our improved understanding of the increasing role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of ACS and its relationship to atherosclerotic plaque rupture and thrombosis has led to the development of more potent anti-thrombotic and novel anti-inflammatory therapies for the treatment of ACS.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the authors explore: the developing pharmacotherapy in the field of cardiology for ACS; antiplatelet agents (both further development of classical modalities together with pioneering agents); evolving use of anticoagulation in its treatment, and exploration in the use of novel anti-inflammatories and biological agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data from trials involving the use of immunological and cellular-based treatments show promising results and herald further possible reduction in infarct burden in ACS alongside the possibility of recovery in cardiac function following infarction.
authors.affiliation: a 1 University Hospital Limerick - Cardiology , Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cormac T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.affiliation: a 1 University Hospital Limerick - Cardiology , Limerick, Ireland.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kiernan
authors.affiliation: b 2 The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Department of Medicine & Therapeutics , Hong Kong, China +852 26 32 38 78 ; bryan.yan@cuhk.edu.hk.
authors.forename: Bryan P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015195:Drug Design; D015507:Drugs, Investigational / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000925:Anticoagulants; D015507:Drugs, Investigational; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
keywords: acute coronary syndrome; anticoagulation therapy; antiinflammatory therapy; antiplatelet therapy