PlaqueTec has recruited 100 patients into its BIOPATTERN trial, which uses intracoronary liquid biopsy to investigate coronary artery disease.

PlaqueTec has recruited its 100th patient into a clinical trial investigating the biological mechanisms driving coronary artery disease, with the study now expanding to eight NHS cardiac centres.

The BIOPATTERN trial aims to recruit 300 patients and uses PlaqueTec’s Liquid Biopsy System to collect blood samples directly from the site of coronary plaque. The approach is designed to identify patient-specific disease mechanisms that could support the development of targeted treatments and diagnostic tests.

Four additional NHS centres have joined the study: St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, Leeds General Infirmary, Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The first two are now recruiting patients, while the latter two have completed set-up and are preparing to begin recruitment.

The expanded network also includes Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Royal Bournemouth Hospital and the Bristol Heart Institute.

Recruitment is expected to reach the 300-patient target in 2027.

Liquid biopsy investigates disease at its source

Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common form of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), develops when plaque builds up inside the arteries supplying blood to the heart.

Although existing treatments can reduce cardiovascular risk, patients can continue to experience adverse events despite receiving standard care. PlaqueTec’s approach aims to investigate the biological processes occurring directly within diseased coronary arteries, rather than relying solely on conventional blood samples taken elsewhere in the circulation.

Its Liquid Biopsy System collects blood at the site of coronary plaque, allowing researchers to measure thousands of biomolecules associated with disease activity.

The resulting proteomic and clinical data are added to BioCarta, PlaqueTec’s repository of intracoronary biological information.

The company aims to use the dataset to identify distinct patient subgroups, uncover potential therapeutic targets and support the development of diagnostic approaches for more targeted treatment strategies.

Trial expansion supports precision medicine research

BIOPATTERN is being conducted by Papworth Trials Unit Collaboration in partnership with PlaqueTec.

The trial is overseen by a steering committee chaired by Professor Peter Libby of Harvard Medical School, who is also president of the International Atherosclerosis Society.

Stephen Hoole, consultant cardiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital and chief investigator of BIOPATTERN, said: “One-size-fits-all treatment for coronary disease leaves many patients carrying significant residual risk. PlaqueTec’s site-of-disease approach aims to reveal the mechanisms underlying disease in individual patients, and holds real potential to drive a new generation of precision medicines for atherosclerotic disease.”

Simon Williams, general manager at PlaqueTec, said: “BIOPATTERN aims to close the knowledge gap in CAD and pave the way for precision therapies where unmet need remains high.”

He added: “Passing 100 participants and growing to eight NHS centres is important progress. We’re grateful to our NHS clinical partners and to every patient taking part.”

The study’s target of 300 participants represents an opportunity to build a larger dataset of biological information from patients with coronary artery disease.

However, whether the approach can identify clinically useful disease subgroups and therapeutic targets will depend on the results of the ongoing research.