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Acute Coronary Syndromes

Cardiovascular
7
Pipeline Programs
14
Companies
23
Clinical Trials
1 recruiting
1
Approved Products

Pipeline by Development Stage

Preclinical
Phase 1
Phase 1/2
Phase 2
Phase 2/3
Phase 3
On Market
0
1
1
0
0
1
4
Early DiscoveryClinical DevelopmentMarket

Drug Modality Breakdown

Small Molecule
1100%
+ 16 programs with unclassified modality

Cardiovascular is a $69.4B mature market dominated by anticoagulants and metabolic therapies with stable blockbuster portfolios.

$69.4B marketMature→ Stable30 products15 companies

Key Trends

  • FXa inhibitors (ELIQUIS, XARELTO) command 62% of market spending, creating limited room for new entrants
  • SGLT2 inhibitors gaining traction in heart failure indication, signaling expansion beyond traditional anticoagulation
  • Multiple patent cliffs (JANUVIA 2027, OPSUMIT 2029) create near-term revenue vulnerability but reinvestment pressure

Career Verdict

Strong choice for commercial, clinical operations, and device integration roles; limited opportunity for innovative pipeline development given market maturity.

AI-generated market analysis based on FDA, CMS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and hiring data

Market Leaders

#1ELIQUISStable
$18.3B
#2JARDIANCEGrowing
$8.8B
#3XARELTOStable
$6.3B
#4FARXIGAGrowing
$4.3B
AstraZeneca·Peak15.4yr
#5JANUVIADeclining
$4.1B
Merck & Co.·LOE_Approaching1.1yr

Drug Class Breakdown

FXa Inhibitors (Apixaban/Rivaroxaban)
$42.8B(62%)

Mature, stable revenue base

SGLT2 Inhibitors
$13.1B(19%)

Growing in heart failure and renal indications

DPP4 Inhibitors
$4.1B(6%)

Declining as LOE approaches 2027

ARBs and Combination Therapies
$3.4B(5%)

Stable in heart failure management

Endothelin Receptor Antagonists and Prostacyclin Agonists
$1.8B(3%)

Niche pulmonary hypertension market

Career Outlook

Stable

Cardiovascular careers are stable but not expanding; the market is mature, dominated by blockbuster franchises with predictable commercial cycles and patent cliffs. Professionals entering this space should expect strong compensation (Commercial $210K avg, Medical Affairs $201K avg) but limited opportunity to drive breakthrough innovation. Device company roles offer better growth trajectories than pharma, particularly in remote monitoring, diagnostics, and patient engagement technologies.

Breaking In

Target device companies (Abbott, Medtronic) for growth potential; if joining pharma, focus on Commercial or Clinical Operations roles where hiring is active and compensation is competitive.

For Experienced Professionals

Leverage cardiovascular expertise to move into medical device strategy, digital health partnerships, or adjacent therapeutic areas; R&D opportunity is limited and may require lateral moves to access innovation-focused roles.

In-Demand Skills

Healthcare economics and payer management (anticoagulation safety monitoring, cost-effectiveness)Real-world evidence generation (postmarket surveillance for FXa inhibitors)Digital health and remote patient monitoring integrationClinical trial execution in large, established patient populationsRegulatory expertise in label expansions (SGLT2 inhibitor indications)

Best For

Commercial/Sales roles (mature market execution)Medical Science Liaisons (managing healthcare provider relationships on established therapies)Clinical Operations/Project Managers (managing large Phase 3/4 programs)Regulatory Affairs (label expansion strategy, patent cliff preparation)Health Economics and Outcomes Research (demonstrating value in competitive anticoagulation market)

Hiring Landscape

$130K-$210K

Cardiovascular hiring is concentrated in device companies (Abbott 337, Medtronic 317) rather than pharma, reflecting the therapeutic area's reliance on hardware solutions and patient management infrastructure. Pharma hiring (Johnson & Johnson 261, Bristol Myers Squibb 52) is heavily weighted toward Commercial (468 roles) and Clinical Operations (296 roles), with minimal R&D investment (14 roles). Medical device integration and remote patient monitoring expertise are increasingly valued as the market consolidates.

1,386
Open Roles
5
Companies Hiring
5
Departments

Top Hiring Companies

337Growing
317Growing

By Department

Commercial(34%)
$210K
Clinical Operations(21%)
$180K
Engineering(13%)
$145K
Medical Affairs(1%)
$201K
Research & Development(1%)
$194K

Device companies offer more growth opportunities; pharma roles are high-paying but oriented toward mature market execution rather than innovation.

On Market (1)

Approved therapies currently available

METOPROLOL TARTRATEApproved
metoprolol
Unknown Company
oral2013

Competitive Landscape

12 companies ranked by most advanced pipeline stage

AstraZeneca
AstraZenecaCAMBRIDGE, United Kingdom
5 programs
2
ferric carboxymaltosePhase 41 trial
metoprololPhase 4Small Molecule5 trials
A Post Marketing Surveillance to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of BrilintaN/A1 trial
An Epidemiological Study of Acute Coronary Syndromes in The Greek Population. The TARGET StudyN/A1 trial
Non-Interventional StudyN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT01611272Completed3,402Est. Jul 2016
NCT01061086Completed418Est. Feb 2011
NCT02271022Completed2,000Est. Oct 2019
+6 more trials
Pfizer
PfizerNEW YORK, NY
1 program
1
ApixabanPhase 4
ViiV Healthcare
ViiV HealthcareNC - Durham
1 program
1
Switching from Fondaparinux to Bivalirudin or Unfractionated HeparinPhase 3
Sandoz
SandozAustria - Kundl
1 program
1
EverolimusPhase 1/21 trial
Active Trials
NCT01529554Completed150Est. Nov 2021
Prevail Therapeutics
1 program
1
clopidogrelPhase 11 trial
Active Trials
NCT01107899Terminated29Est. Dec 2010
Daiichi Sankyo
Daiichi SankyoChina - Shanghai
2 programs
clopidogrelPHASE_1
Triple oral lipid lowering treatmentPHASE_31 trial
Active Trials
NCT07440381Not Yet Recruiting600Est. Aug 2027
Design Therapeutics
1 program
ClopidogrelN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT04630288Unknown1,900Est. Dec 2020
Design Pharmaceuticals
1 program
ClopidogrelN/A
Bracco
BraccoItaly - Milan
1 program
Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography for Acute Chest Pain EvaluationN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT00615719Terminated35Est. Dec 2009
Medtronic
MedtronicNJ - Phillipsburg
1 program
Conservative ArmN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02086019Completed250Est. Dec 2019
Sanofi
SanofiPARIS, France
1 program
knowledge translationN/A1 trial
Active Trials
NCT02672137Completed4,604Est. Jan 2016
GSK
GSKLONDON, United Kingdom
1 program
Switching from Fondaparinux to Bivalirudin or Unfractionated HeparinPHASE_31 trial
Active Trials
NCT00464087Completed100Est. Nov 2010

Trial Timeline

Clinical trial activity over time

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
2028
AstraZenecaferric carboxymaltose
AstraZenecametoprolol
AstraZenecametoprolol
AstraZenecametoprolol
AstraZenecametoprolol
AstraZenecametoprolol
Daiichi SankyoTriple oral lipid lowering treatment
GSKSwitching from Fondaparinux to Bivalirudin or Unfractionated Heparin
AstraZenecametoprolol
AstraZenecametoprolol
AstraZenecametoprolol
SandozEverolimus
Prevail Therapeuticsclopidogrel
AstraZenecametoprolol
Design TherapeuticsClopidogrel

Showing 15 of 22 trials with date data

Clinical Trials (23)

Total enrollment: 63,749 patients across 23 trials

Pain Relief of Metoprolol Versus Metoprolol Plus Morphine in Acute Chest Pain

Phase 4Completed
NCT07476859AstraZenecaferric carboxymaltose

Effect of Intravenous Iron on Quality of Life in Older Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Start: Mar 2026Est. completion: May 2028538 patients
Phase 4Recruiting

Evaluation of Succinate Metoprolol on Heart Rate in the Stable Angina Patients

Start: Oct 2010Est. completion: Sep 2011251 patients
Phase 4Completed

A Study to Compare the Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Selomax With Its Individual Components

Start: Nov 2008Est. completion: Aug 2009402 patients
Phase 4Completed

Efficacy and Safety of Metoprolol Succinate Prolonged-Release Tablet in Patients With Mild to Moderate Hypertension

Start: Oct 2005Est. completion: May 2006310 patients
Phase 4Completed

A Randomized Clinical Trial of Metoprolol in Participants With Mitral Regurgitation.

Start: Jul 2004Est. completion: Jul 200760 patients
Phase 4Completed

Efficacy and Safety of Adding Clopidogrel to Aspirin or Use of Metoprolol in Myocardial Infarction

Start: Jul 1999Est. completion: Feb 200546,000 patients
Phase 4Completed
NCT07440381Daiichi SankyoTriple oral lipid lowering treatment

triPle Oral thERapy With Bempedoic Acid vs uSual Care in Early Lipid Management of Patients With acUte coronAry synDromE

Start: Sep 2026Est. completion: Aug 2027600 patients
Phase 3Not Yet Recruiting
NCT00464087GSKSwitching from Fondaparinux to Bivalirudin or Unfractionated Heparin

Switching From Fondaparinux to Bivalirudin or Unfractionated Heparin in ACS Patients Undergoing PCI

Start: Jun 2007Est. completion: Nov 2010100 patients
Phase 3Completed

Factorial Study of Metoprolol Succinate TOPROL-XL (324A)

Start: Jun 2003Est. completion: Jul 20041,900 patients
Phase 3Completed

Dose Ranging, Safety and Tolerability of TOPROL-XL® Extended-Release Tablets in Hypertensive Pediatric Subjects

Start: Jul 2002144 patients
Phase 3Completed

307B - Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics Study of TOPROL-XL® in Hypertensive Pediatric Subjects

Start: Jul 2002100 patients
Phase 3Completed

Controlled Level EVERolimus in Acute Coronary Syndromes

Start: Jan 2015Est. completion: Nov 2021150 patients
Phase 1/2Completed

Study to Learn When Platelets Return to Normal After One Loading Dose of Anti-platelet Drugs in Patients With Symptoms of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Start: Oct 2009Est. completion: Dec 201029 patients
Phase 1Terminated

Metoprolol in Acute Myocardial Infarction. A PK/PD Study

Start: Feb 2000Est. completion: Apr 200227 patients
Phase 1Completed

Safety and Efficacy of Ticagrelor vs Clopidogrel in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Start: Jul 2019Est. completion: Dec 20201,900 patients
N/AUnknown
NCT02271022AstraZenecaNon-Interventional Study

Utilization of Ticagrelor in the Upstream Setting for Non-ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction (UPSTREAM): An ED-Based Clinical Registry

Start: Feb 2015Est. completion: Oct 20192,000 patients
N/ACompleted
NCT02086019MedtronicConservative Arm

Revascularisation or Medical Therapy in Elderly Patients With Acute Anginal Syndromes

Start: May 2014Est. completion: Dec 2019250 patients
N/ACompleted
NCT01611272AstraZenecaA Post Marketing Surveillance to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Brilinta

A Post Marketing Surveillance to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Brilinta

Start: Apr 2013Est. completion: Jul 20163,402 patients
N/ACompleted
NCT01061086AstraZenecaAn Epidemiological Study of Acute Coronary Syndromes in The Greek Population. The TARGET Study

An Epidemiological Study of Acute Coronary Syndromes in The Greek Population. The TARGET Study

Start: Jan 2010Est. completion: Feb 2011418 patients
N/ACompleted
NCT02672137Sanofiknowledge translation

Knowledge Translation for Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes

Start: Jan 2010Est. completion: Jan 20164,604 patients
N/ACompleted
NCT00615719BraccoComputed Tomographic Coronary Angiography for Acute Chest Pain Evaluation

Computed Tomographic Coronary Angiography for Acute Chest Pain Evaluation

Start: Oct 2006Est. completion: Dec 200935 patients
N/ATerminated

The Effects on Blood Pressure Control, Pulse Wave Velocity, as Well as Safety and Tolerability of Felodipine Sustained Release in Chinese Patients.

Start: Dec 2005Est. completion: Aug 2006529 patients
N/ACompleted

Related Jobs in Cardiovascular

Phase Legend

PreclinicalLab & animal studies
Phase 1Safety & dosing
Phase 2Efficacy testing
Phase 3Large-scale trials
On MarketApproved & available

Key Insights

1 late-stage (Phase 3) programs, potential near-term approvals
1 actively recruiting trials targeting 63,749 patients
14 companies competing in this space

The information on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Drug information is sourced from FDA, DailyMed, and other government databases. Adverse event data from FAERS does not establish causation. Always consult a healthcare professional for medical decisions.