Novartis Abandons Heart Drug After Surprising Failure in Key Study, Bloomberg reports

Novartis (NVS) will halt development of a heart disease drug discovered by Ionis (IONS) after it failed in a late-stage trial in September, according to Bloomberg.

Novartis' experimental drug pelacarsen failed to reduce heart attacks or strokes in a clinical trial, despite lowering lipoprotein(a) levels by 78%. The Horizon trial, led by Dr. Steven Nissen, included 8,322 participants with high Lp(a) levels. Experts express surprise and disappointment, but note Lp(a) remains a key heart health indicator. Other drugs by Eli Lilly, Amgen, and Silence Therapeutics are in development.

Novartis AG is halting development of pelacarsen, an experimental cardiovascular drug, after a key study showed it failed to reduce heart attacks or strokes despite lowering cholesterol. The company will continue one mid-stage study for a different heart condition. The Lp(a) HORIZON trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found no clinical benefit from the drug. According to Dr. Steven Nissen, the trial results were neutral, offering no harm or benefit.

Novartis' Phase III HORIZON study of pelacarsen showed the drug reduced lipoprotein(a) levels but did not lower cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes. Results were presented at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Novartis's experimental drug pelacarsen, which targets lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), a genetic cardiovascular risk factor, failed to reduce serious outcomes in a Phase 3 trial. The study, revealed at the American Heart Association's scientific sessions, showed the drug lowered Lp(a) levels but did not decrease heart attacks, strokes, or deaths over nearly five years. This raises questions about Novartis's cardiovascular strategy.

Novartis' experimental cholesterol drug pelacarsen failed to reduce heart attacks or strokes in a major clinical trial, despite significantly lowering lipoprotein(a) levels. The Horizon trial, led by Dr. Steven Nissen, included 8,322 patients and found no cardiovascular health benefits. Experts express surprise and discuss potential reasons for the failure, while noting ongoing research into similar drugs by Eli Lilly, Amgen, and Silence Therapeutics.