A review with 43 referencesMany clin. trials and pathol. analyses have clearly demonstrated a central role for platelets in the pathophysiol. of major cardiovascular disorders, including unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction (MI), transient ischemia, and stroke following thrombolytic therapy.A meta-anal. of 25 randomized trials of various antiplatelet agents that included 29,000 patients revealed a highly significant decrease in non-fatal MI, stroke, total cardiovascular death, and overall mortality in patients treated with antiplatelet agents compared with placebo.These data have triggered intense efforts over the past 10 yr in studying the role of the platelet in cardiovascular disorders, and in developing more potent and selective antiplatelet agents.This discussion summarizes recent advances in the development and evaluation of these newer agents with particular emphasis on antagonists of the glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor, since this protein plays a key role in the final common pathway of platelet aggregation.