Cholesterol drug setback casts doubt over multibillion-dollar race
Novartis’ failure raises the stakes for Amgen and Eli Lilly in the race to turn lower Lp(a) levels into fewer heart attacks and strokes.
TL;DR
- Novartis' pelacarsen drug failed to significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes in a clinical trial.
- The drug, developed with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, reduced Lp(a) cholesterol but did not translate to better patient outcomes.
- This failure raises questions about the multibillion-dollar race to develop treatments for Lp(a), a harmful form of cholesterol.
- Rival companies Amgen and Eli Lilly are also developing Lp(a)-lowering drugs with different technologies.
- Analysts suggest the Lp(a) hypothesis is weakened but not disproven, with more data needed to clarify the trial's results.
- Novartis' setback has also impacted the share prices of Amgen and Ionis Pharmaceuticals.