A Promising Heart Drug Fails, Challenging a Long-Held Theory of Disease
nytimes.com
A heart drug built on the inflammation theory just failed spectacularly — now experts aren't sure inflammation causes heart disease at all.
Causal InferenceFalsificationismPathophysiological TheoryCorrelation vs. Causation
Theory Briefing
- The drug was designed to target inflammation, a mechanism scientists have long believed drives heart disease.
- Its failure is forcing researchers to question whether inflammation is a cause of heart disease or merely a bystander.
- The result challenges years of investment in anti-inflammatory treatments as a path to cardiovascular prevention.