An analysis of FDA-approved drugs for cardiovascular diseases.
Following the introduction of antibiotic therapy and widespread inoculations, cardiovascular diseases have leapt ahead of infectious diseases in terms of prevalence in much of the developed and developing world. Herein, we assess FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. The drug development enterprise around cardiovascular diseases has remained stable in contrast to turbulent changes in other therapeutic indications. However, upon closer inspection, the results identify narrow scope in terms of the breadth of targets and the mechanistic actions of new drugs. From the public health point of view, it is important to balance incremental change with orthogonal innovations that are needed to combat a leading cause of morbidity and mortality.