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 900,000 people in the UK.

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 U.S., where the treatment is being compared to a placebo.