the current invention comprises an approach to solving the clinical problem of restenosis , which involves the administration of combinations of drugs to patients undergoing ptca or stent implantation . in one embodiment of the invention , an antiproliferative agent such as rapamycin , vincristine or taxol is administered in combination with the anti - inflammatory agent , dexamethasone , to patients systemically , either subcutaneously or intravenously . in another embodiment of the invention , the antiproliferative and anti - inflammatory agents are bound in a single formulation to the surface of a stent by means of incorporation within either a biodegradeable or biostable polymeric coating . alternatively , such drug combinations could be incorporated into a stent constructed with a grooved reservoir .