Simple jab to clear clogged arteries

A JAB in the leg may be a new way to tackle peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries that restricts blood supply to the leg muscles and affects around one in ten Irish adults.

The drug, which contains growth factors — natural substances in the body that encourage tissues to grow — is designed to trigger the growth of new blood vessels and improve blood flow to the legs and feet, which, in severe cases, can be completely blocked.

Animal studies found a single injection of the drug, known as CVBT-141C, increased artery blood flow and blood vessel growth.

Now, 24 patients are taking part in a trial at the University of Virginia in the US.