Atherosclerosis
Pipeline by Development Stage
Drug Modality Breakdown
Atherosclerosis is a $3.5B market dominated by secondary-indication products, representing a mature cardiovascular segment with limited primary-indication development.
Key Trends
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide) captures 67% market share despite atherosclerosis being a secondary indication, indicating cross-indication revenue attribution challenges
- Lipid-modifying agents (VASCEPA, statins, bempedoic acid) comprise the core atherosclerosis-specific pipeline but face patent cliff erosion through 2030
- Clinical trial activity remains robust (269 trials across all phases) but heavily weighted toward Phase 4 post-market surveillance (48 trials) rather than Phase 3 pivotal trials (29 trials)
Career Verdict
Atherosclerosis specialization offers stable, well-paid employment in a mature market but limited growth upside; better suited for professionals seeking established commercial roles rather than innovation-driven careers.
AI-generated market analysis based on FDA, CMS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and hiring data
Market Leaders
| # | Product | Company | Revenue | Share | Stage | Trend | LOE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VASCEPA (icosapent ethyl) | Inpharmus | $764M | 22% | PEAK | Stable | 6.8yr |
| 2 | LEVEMIR FLEXTOUCH (insulin detemir) | Novo Nordisk | $184M | 5% | LOE_APPROACHING | Declining | |
| 3 | NEXLETOL (bempedoic acid) | Unknown | $46M | 1% | PEAK | Stable | 13.7yr |
| 4 | CRESTOR (rosuvastatin) | AstraZeneca | $39M | 1% | LOE_APPROACHING | Declining |
Drug Class Breakdown
approaching patent cliff 2033
mature, LOE approaching
early peak, patent protected through 2040
mature, LOE approaching
mature, off-patent
mature, LOE approaching
Career Outlook
StableAtherosclerosis represents a steady-state mature market with strong hiring in commercial and medical affairs but limited innovation tailwinds. The therapeutic area is dominated by evidence-based, cost-conscious payers who demand clinical differentiation and risk reduction data—creating sustained demand for Medical Science Liaisons, Outcomes Researchers, and Health Economics professionals. However, patent cliff exposure (VASCEPA $764M at risk by 2033) and reliance on secondary indications for market dominance signal plateau-stage maturity.
Breaking In
Enter via Medical Affairs, HEOR, or Clinical Operations to build cardiovascular credibility; atherosclerosis hiring is strong and provides stable entry into pharma, but differentiate yourself through outcomes research or payer strategy expertise rather than relying on indication-specific knowledge alone.
For Experienced Professionals
Experienced CVD professionals should prioritize Medical Affairs leadership or HEOR director roles at AbbVie, AstraZeneca, or Takeda where hiring is accelerating; avoid pure commercial roles as patent cliffs (particularly VASCEPA 2033) will compress sales headcount significantly.
In-Demand Skills
Best For
Hiring Landscape
Atherosclerosis specialization supports approximately 5,376 jobs across 15 companies, with hiring concentrated in Commercial (789 jobs, $246K avg) and R&D (430 jobs, $224K avg) functions. Top employers include AbbVie (1,245 open positions), AstraZeneca (1,141), and Takeda (1,106), signaling strong hiring despite market maturity. Medical Affairs roles command the highest salaries ($302K average), reflecting demand for clinical expertise in this competitive, evidence-driven therapeutic area.
By Department
Hiring remains steady across major pharma players, but job creation is primarily in support functions (commercial, field medical) rather than innovation roles; specialization offers employment security but limited advancement differentiation.
On Market (2)
Approved therapies currently available
Competitive Landscape
31 companies ranked by most advanced pipeline stage
+1 more companies
Trial Timeline
Clinical trial activity over time
Showing 15 of 50 trials with date data
Clinical Trials (50)
Total enrollment: 29,517 patients across 50 trials
CHOCO-CABANA Trial
Aliskiren Study of Safety and Efficacy in Senior Hypertensives
Rivaroxaban Versus Warfarin in the Evaluation of Progression of Coronary Calcium
The Effect of Atorvastatin and Pioglitazone on Carotid Atherosclerosis With the Use of Positron Emission Tomography-computed Tomography (PET-CT)
Comparison of Amlodipine and Aliskiren in Diabetic Hypertensive Patient With Blood Pressure Not Controlled by Losartan
ALiskiren or Losartan Effects on bioMARKers of Myocardial Remodeling
A Clinical Study With Aliskiren Alone or in Combination Therapy With Diuretic Hctz in Venezuelan Hypertensive Patients.
Evaluating the Effect of Aliskiren Versus HCTZ on Coronary Flow Reserve in Hypertensive Type II Diabetics
Aliskiren/Amlodipine/Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) Versus Aliskiren/Amlodipine in US Minority Patients With Stage II Systolic Hypertension
Aliskiren Plus HCTZ Compared to Aliskiren in Metabolic Syndrome Patients With Stage 2 Systolic Hypertension
Aliskiren HCTZ Compared to Amlodipine in Patients With Stage 2 Systolic Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus
Blood Pressure Lowering of Aliskiren HCTZ Compared to HCTZ in Stage 2 Systolic Hypertension in Older Population
Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren HCTZ vs Ramipril in Obese Patients (BMI ≥ 30) With Stage 2 Hypertension
A Clinical Study to Evaluate Renal Hemodynamic Responses to Aliskiren in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren/Ramipril/Amlodipine Compared With Ramipril/Amlodipine and Aliskiren/Amlodipine in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome
Omacor for the Treatment of Vascular Dysfunction in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Effect of High and Low Sodium Diets on Blood Pressure in Hypertensive Patients Treated With Aliskiren
Comparative Study of the Effect of Ezetimibe Versus Extended-Release Niacin on Atherosclerosis
Long Term Safety of SPA100 (Fixed-dose Combination of Aliskiren/Amlodipine) in Patients With Essential Hypertension
Safety and Efficacy of Aliskiren in Pediatric Hypertensive Patients 6-17 Years of Age
Aliskiren in Combination With Amlodipine in Hypertensive Patients Not Responding to Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) Plus Amlodipine
PROMUS Element Japan Small Vessel Trial
A Prospective, Multi-center Trial to Assess an Everolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent System (PROMUS Element™)
Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren and Aliskiren/Enalapril Combination on Morbidity-mortality in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure
Safety and Efficacy of Aliskiren + Hydrochlorothiazide (± Amlodipine 5 mg) in Patients With Moderate Hypertension
Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Combination Aliskiren/Amlodipine in Patients With Hypertension Not Adequately Responding to Amlodipine Alone
A Long Term Safety Study to Test the Combination of Aliskiren/ Amlodipine / Hydrochlorothiazide in Participants With Essential Hypertension
Efficacy and Safety of the Combination Aliskiren (300 mg) and Hydrochlorothiazide (25mg) to Aliskiren (300mg) Monotherapy in Patients With Staged II Hypertension
Safety/Efficacy of Combo Therapy With Aliskiren & Hydrochlorothiazide vs Therapy With Hydrochlorothiazide Alone in Patients With Hypertension
A Safety and Efficacy Trial of the Combination of Aliskiren / Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)(300/12.5 mg and 300/25 mg) Compared to Aliskiren 300 mg in Hypertensive Patients
A Safety and Efficacy Trial of Aliskiren 150mg , 300 mg Compared to Ramipril 5mg, 10mg in the Elderly
Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren 300mg Compared to Irbesartan 300mg and Ramipril 10 mg in the Setting of a Missed Dose for Patients With Essential Hypertension.
SPP100 (Aliskiren) Regimen in Patients With Severe Hypertension
SPP100 (Aliskiren) Regimen in Hypertensive Patients With Renal Dysfunction
A Dose Ranging Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of Aliskiren in Patients With High Blood Pressure
Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren and Atenolol in Adults (>18) With Mild to Moderate Hypertension
A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Long-term Safety (12 Months) of the Combination of Aliskiren 300 mg and Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg
A Clinical Study to Compare an Aliskiren Based Hypertensive Regimen With a Ramipril Based One Followed by a Randomized Withdrawal.
A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of the Combination of Aliskiren and Amlodipine in Hypertensive Non Responders Patients
A Clinical Study to Compare the Safety and Efficacy of an Aliskiren-based Regimen With a Lisinopril Based Regimen in Patients With Severe Hypertension
A Clinical Study to Compare Combination of Aliskiren+ HCTZ to Irbesartan+ HCTZ or Amlodipine+ HCTZ or HCTZ Alone in Obese Hypertensive Not Responsive to HCTZ 25 mg
Rosiglitazone Versus a Sulfonylurea On Progression Of Atherosclerosis In Patients With Heart Disease And Type 2 Diabetes
A Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Aliskiren Alone and in Combination With Ramipril in Hypertensive, Diabetic Patients.
Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Aliskiren Alone and in Combination With Hydrochlorothiazide in Patients With Essential Hypertension.
Long Term Safety of Aliskiren Alone or With the Optional Addition of Hydrochlorothiazide in Patients With Essential Hypertension
The Role of R-Alpha Lipoic Acid in the Treatment of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease
Aliskiren Effect on Aortic Plaque Progression
Efficacy and Safety of the ACAT Inhibitor CS-505 (Pactimibe) for Reducing the Progression of Carotid Artery Disease. This Study is Also Known as CAPTIVATE.
EPAT: Estrogen in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis Trial
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Key Insights
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.