PlaqueTec’s BIOPATTERN trial reaches 100 patients as NHS network expands to eight cardiac centres
Cambridge-based PlaqueTec has recruited its 100th participant into a clinical trial investigating the biology of coronary artery disease and potential new approaches to more personalised treatment. The trial has expanded to eight NHS cardiac centres across England.
The 300-patient study uses PlaqueTec’s proprietary Liquid Biopsy System (LBS) to collect blood samples directly from coronary arteries, allowing researchers to investigate biological activity at the site of atherosclerotic plaque.
The latest recruitment milestone marks progress towards the trial’s target of 300 participants, with recruitment expected to complete in 2027.
Four additional NHS centres have joined the study. St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and Leeds General Infirmary are now recruiting participants, while Blackpool Victoria Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham have completed their set-up and are preparing to begin recruitment.
They join the existing trial network of Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, Royal Bournemouth Hospital and the Bristol Heart Institute.
Investigating the biology behind coronary artery disease
Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common form of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), which is the leading cause of death worldwide.
The condition develops when fatty deposits, known as plaques, build up within the coronary arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart. If a plaque becomes unstable and ruptures, it can trigger a blood clot and lead to a heart attack.
Although advances in cardiovascular medicine have improved prevention and treatment, patients with coronary artery disease can have different underlying biological mechanisms driving their condition. Understanding these differences could help researchers identify why some patients remain at greater risk despite receiving established treatments.
Currently, treatment strategies rely on a combination of approaches, including medication to manage cholesterol and blood pressure, lifestyle changes and, where appropriate, interventional procedures.
PlaqueTec aims to address some of the remaining knowledge gaps through its Liquid Biopsy System, which is designed to collect blood samples at multiple points along diseased coronary arteries.
Unlike conventional blood tests, which measure circulating biomarkers throughout the body, the LBS is designed to capture localised biological signals associated with coronary plaque. By comparing samples collected at different locations, researchers can investigate changes in the concentrations of proteins and other biomolecules around diseased areas.
The approach could provide a more detailed understanding of the biological processes involved in plaque development and progression, helping researchers identify distinct patient subgroups, potential biomarkers and new therapeutic targets.
Building a data platform for precision medicine
Data generated through BIOPATTERN will contribute to PlaqueTec’s BioCarta repository, a growing collection of intracoronary proteomic and clinical data.
The trial combines blood sampling using the LBS with additional investigations, including intracoronary imaging, clinical and demographic data collection, genetic analysis and large-scale protein profiling.
By bringing these datasets together, PlaqueTec aims to build a more comprehensive picture of the biological differences between patients with coronary artery disease.
The longer-term objective is to use these insights to support patient stratification, identify potential drug targets and inform the development of precision medicines and new diagnostic approaches.
The research is being coordinated by Papworth Trials Unit Collaboration in partnership with PlaqueTec. The trial is overseen by a Steering Committee chaired by Professor Peter Libby, Mallinckrodt Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and President of the International Atherosclerosis Society.
Expanding NHS collaboration
Commenting on the trial's progress, Dr Stephen Hoole, Consultant Cardiologist at Royal Papworth Hospital and BIOPATTERN's Chief Investigator, 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.”
Dr Simon Williams, General Manager at PlaqueTec, added:
“BIOPATTERN aims to close the knowledge gap in CAD and pave the way for precision therapies where unmet need remains high. 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.”
With recruitment continuing towards its 300-participant target, BIOPATTERN represents an effort to better understand the biological diversity of coronary artery disease and how this knowledge could inform future treatment development.
By investigating disease activity at the site of coronary plaque, PlaqueTec aims to generate insights that could help move cardiovascular medicine towards more targeted approaches, addressing the differences in disease mechanisms and treatment needs between individual patients.
This article is based on information supplied by PlaqueTec in its announcement dated 12 November 2026. The potential applications of the technology described are research objectives and have not yet been established as clinical benefits for patients.
Further information: PlaqueTec – Our Research
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BioFocus Newsroom