Coronary artery restenosis remains an unsolved problem. To date, drugs have been ineffective in preventing restenosis in humans, and although intracoronary stent implantation is effective, it enhances neointimal proliferation. Locally delivered, catheter-based gene therapy represents a potential option for preventing intimal hyperplasia. Encouraging results have been achieved using adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in animals. In addition, a more ambitious approach using intracoronary stents coated with genetically modified endothelial cells is in the early stages of development. The prospects for gene therapy in preventing restenosis were discussed at the 17th Congress of the European Society of Cardiology [Amsterdam, The Netherlands; August 1995].