Editorial [Hot Topic: Drugs Targeting Atherosclerosis: Current and Emerging Approaches (Executive Editors: Vangelis G. Manolopoulos and Anna Tavridou)]

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Atherosclerosis is a common denominator underlying most clinical manifestations of cardiovascular disease. It is a complex inflammatory process characterized by the cross-talk between excessive inflammation and lipid accumulation. Despite of extensive research, there are several unmet needs in the management of atherosclerosis. Dyslipidemia is one of the main risk factors leading to atherosclerosis. Hitherto, treating hyperlipidemia with the use of statins is the main pharmacological intervention for prevention of atherosclerosis-related disorders. Despite significant clinical benefits associated with statin treatment, monotherapy with statins is frequently insufficient since the reduction of the risk for major coronary events is only 30%. Thus, there is a need for new drugs with different mechanisms of action to directly inhibit atherosclerosis. Both the accumulating knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of atherogenesis and new strategies in drug design and synthesis are expected to bring about alternative therapeutic options in the treatment of atherosclerosis-related disorders. Pharmaceutical industry is either improving existing molecules or synthesizing novel molecules against new targets aiming at direct inhibition of atherosclerosis. In addition, several drugs already in use for cardiovascular and metabolic disorders appear to possess direct antiatherosclerotic properties due to mechanisms of action unrelated to their main effects. We have recently published an overview of all different classes of novel molecules targeting dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis [1]. In the present series of articles, some of the most promising developments in atherosclerosis-related research relevant to drug development are thoroughly reviewed, including novel molecules targeting dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, anti-atherosclerotic potential of established therapeutic agents for other indications, as well as recent developments in knowledge of pathophysiologic pathways related to atherosclerosis.