Conceptual approaches and the current state of the atherosclerosis treatment in Ukraine

Aim. To study the range of medicines for the pharmacotherapy of atherosclerosis and determine the latest approaches to the treatment of atherosclerosis using drugs with a combined mechanism of action. Materіals and methods. The study objects in this work were antiatherosclerotic medicines. The work used a logical, systematic, and structural analysis of scientific sources, taking into account their main pharmacological characteristics (the mechanism of action, effectiveness, side effects, etc.), their trade names, manufacturing countries, dosage forms, etc. To search for medicines, an information system, including the State Register of Medicinal Products, “Drug Control”, Clinical protocols for medical care and prevention of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases, as well as Rx Index, Compendium etc., was used. Results. The paper provides information on the study of the range of medicines for the treatment of atherosclerosis in the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine and the prospects for finding new drugs of this group with different mechanisms of action. According to the results of the study, the ratio of domestic and foreign-produced medicines presented in the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine has been determined. It has been found that the share of domestic medicines is only about 11 %, which determines the need to expand their range. They are mainly available in the form of tablets, capsules and solutions for injections. Therefore, the range of dosage forms is limited and also needs to be expanded for the convenience of using the drugs. The pharmacological features of the main groups of drugs used to treat atherosclerosis (statins, fibrates, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, PCSK9 inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants, angioprotectors, antioxidants, etc.) are described. Their mechanism of action, complications of pharmacotherapy and ways to overcome them through to overcome the combination therapy are highlighted. Prospects for the search for new drugs for the treatment of atherosclerosis are presented. Conclusions. According to the results of the studies conducted, it has been found that in the pharmaceutical market of Ukraine, most of the medicines for the treatment of atherosclerosis are of foreign production. Their import substitution with effective and safe medicines is one of the tasks of modern pharmacy. Taking into account the individual characteristics of patients provides more effective and safe treatment. The main areas of the search for new medicines are the creation of combined drugs, the use of the latest innovative drugs, and the combination therapy using medicines of natural origin.