# A Novel Ticagrelor Coated Stent to Eliminate the Need for Dual Anti Platelet Therapy Post PCI

> **NIH NIH R33** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $481,245

## Abstract

There are more than 1.8 million percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed annually to treat coronary
artery stenosis. Stent thrombosis is a catastrophic mechanism for stent failure, comprising 11% of cases of acute
myocardial infarction, and carries a high morbidity and mortality; its prevention requires the use of prolonged
dual antiplatelet therapy, which significantly increases bleeding risk, rendering PCI therapy of prohibitively high
risk in certain patients. This is particularly true with co-existing conditions, such as atrial fibrillation, which
comprises 5% of PCI patients and requires additional anticoagulant therapy to prevent left atrial thrombi. Yet, a
contemporary stent system that provides local antiplatelet activity, obviating the need for systemic therapy to
mitigate bleeding risk, does not exist.
To fill this urgent unmet need, we have developed such a stent: the ticagrelor coated stent (TCS). The TCS is
coated with the potent antiplatelet agent ticagrelor, utilizing a self-assembled monolayer. We have established
in vitro proof of concept for this new stent platform. We also implanted the TCS in rabbits for up to 35 days and
demonstrated superior performance in comparison with standard non-coated stents. In a recent porcine ex vivo
AV fistula model, we demonstrated widely patent TCS with no thrombus, minimal platelet activation and
adherence, and a marked decrease in inflammation, in comparison to control stents. Thus, the TCS provides
local antiplatelet activity to not only prevent stent thrombosis, but also to minimize bleeding risk by eliminating
the need for systemic dual antiplatelet therapy. Moreover, this stent is expected to provide a safe
revascularization option for patients who have limited access to or who are unable to take daily medications.
Given our promising preliminary data, we are now poised to move forward with a detailed chemical
characterization of the TCS and safety testing in porcine coronary artery implant studies, to further assess safety,
prior to potential clinical translation. We have divided the proposed work into the following three Specific Aims:
(1) precise measurement of drug concentration per TCS area pre- and post-implantation, TCS shelf life and
stability, using mass spectroscopy and UV spectroscopy techniques; (2) assessment of platelet activity and
inflammation in a porcine ex vivo model as measured by scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy,
and histopathology; (3) safety of stent implantation assessed in porcine survival studies at 7, 28, and 180 days
and a head-to-head comparison with industry standard coronary drug eluting stents. Safety testing in our porcine
groups will serve as the framework to translate our work to human subjects.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10793040
- **Project number:** 1R33HL171775-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** John J Pacella
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $481,245
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-15 → 2026-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10793040

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10793040, A Novel Ticagrelor Coated Stent to Eliminate the Need for Dual Anti Platelet Therapy Post PCI (1R33HL171775-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10793040. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*