The Coming of Age of Vulnerable Plaque

Traditional scientific wisdom holds that heart attacks originate from severe blockages of the artery created by atherosclerosis, the progressive build up of plaque in the coronary arteries. Recent research indicates, however, that certain kinds of "vulnerable plaque" may trigger acute coronary events, creating demand for new diagnostic tools to identify and characterize the plaque and new treatments. The field is moving at a dizzying pace and is beginning to attract a handful of start-ups and venture capitalists; these see a huge opportunity, but also recognize the challenges inherent in changing entrenched approaches to treatment.