New findings from the ongoing Biopattern study suggest PlaqueTec’s Liquid Biopsy System may offer early insights into coronary artery disease by revealing distinct protein patterns around arterial plaque.

Cambridge-based biotech PlaqueTec has released interim data from its Biopattern clinical trial, showing differences in protein concentrations between systemic blood and samples taken directly from diseased coronary arteries. The results support the company’s precision medicine approach to coronary artery disease (CAD) and confirm the safety and functionality of its proprietary Liquid Biopsy System (LBS).

The analysis, which evaluated samples from the first 34 patients enrolled in the trial, revealed notable protein gradients between blood collected upstream and downstream of arterial plaques. These early signals suggest that disease-associated proteins may be concentrated at the site of plaque build-up – information that could be critical for identifying new therapeutic targets or refining patient stratification.

Biopattern is designed to investigate trans-plaque protein signaling in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The platform captures thousands of protein and blood molecule measurements from within the coronary microenvironment – a key advance over traditional, systemic-only sampling methods.

Dr Diane Proudfoot, chief scientific officer at PlaqueTec, said the findings strengthen the case for moving beyond standardized CAD treatment models. She said: “Current approaches rely heavily on managing risk factors like cholesterol and blood pressure, yet many patients still experience disease progression. By focusing on the biology at the plaque site, we aim to identify distinct disease endotypes that can support the development of more targeted therapies.”

The company’s LBS device enables safe, site-specific sampling from coronary arteries. Safety data from the interim analysis supports continued patient enrolment, with the trial targeting a total of 300 participants. Samples and findings from the study will be integrated into a proprietary data platform to help map disease pathways and inform therapeutic development.

Dr Simon Williams, General Manager at PlaqueTec, described the interim data as a “key milestone” for the BIOPATTERN study: “The high-quality samples we’ve collected so far, combined with novel site-of-disease insights, give us confidence in both the device and our broader precision strategy for CAD.”

The early results will be presented at the European Atherosclerosis Society Congress (EAS 2025).