Restenosis: a challenge for pharmacology

The quest for an anti-restenotic drug continues to be a major challenge in the field of cardiovascular pharmacology because most thera pies with prove n efficacy in experimental neointima models have failed to limit restenosis . Some drug classes, including glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists, nitric ox ide donors and the antioxidant probucol, have recently demonstrated potenti al benefits in clinical trials. Progress in the development of local delive ry systems for administration of drugs, antisense oligonucleotides or genes , in combination with an improved understanding of the pathogenesis of rest enosis holds promise for ultimate pharmacotherapy of this condition.