Cardiovascular (CV)

Backed by over 40 years’ experience, AstraZeneca is a world leader in cardiovascular medicines. We aim to build on our strong position, focusing on the growth areas of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), thrombosis (blood clotting), diabetes and atrial fibrillation.

Medical need

Cardiovascular (CV) disease claims more lives each year than the next four leading causes of death combined. It accounts for 17 million deaths worldwide annually, making it the greatest risk to life for most adults.

One in three adults has some form of CV disease, including diseases such as high blood pressure, abnormal levels of blood cholesterol, thrombosis – including heart attacks and stroke and diabetes.

High blood pressure and abnormal levels of blood cholesterol are well known to damage the arterial wall and thereby to lead to atherosclerosis. The most important and frequent manifestations of atherosclerosis are heart attacks and stroke due to thrombin formation in association with ruptured atherosclerotic plaque.

Diabetes is associated with an increased risk for a number of serious, sometimes life-threatening complications, including heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nervous system disease and amputations.

Heart disease death rates among adults with diabetes are two to four times higher than the rates for adults without diabetes. Diabetes is the most rapidly increasing risk factor for CV disease, driven by a dramatic increase in obesity on a worldwide scale.