STAT+: Novartis’ experimental cardiovascular drug fails a pivotal study

Pelacarsen is Novartis' experimental therapy designed to lower levels of Lp(a), a lipid-protein particle whose elevated concentrations are linked to a higher risk of serious cardiovascular problems like heart attacks and stroke. Earlier trials had shown pelacarsen could dramatically reduce Lp(a) levels, making it a closely watched candidate in a field that also includes Lp(a)-targeting programs from Amgen and Eli Lilly.

Novartis announced Friday that in the Phase 3 HORIZON trial, pelacarsen failed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death or events such as heart attacks or stroke compared with placebo. The failure is a major setback for Novartis and for the broader effort to treat this common heart disease risk factor.