Novartis drops heart drug after it failed to prevent heart attacks
Novartis (NVS) is ending development of its heart drug pelacarsen in heart disease after full results showed it did not prevent heart attacks or strokes.
The late-stage trial enrolled more than 8,300 patients who already had heart disease and high levels of lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Lp(a) is a type of cholesterol that is mostly inherited and that diet and statins barely change.
Pelacarsen cut Lp(a) levels by 78%, but heart attacks, strokes, urgent artery procedures and heart deaths did not fall.
About 12% of patients in each group had a serious heart event, whether they got pelacarsen or a placebo. Most were followed for nearly five years.
Steven Nissen, the cardiologist who led the study, presented the results on Saturday, November 7, at the American Heart Association's meeting in Chicago. They were also published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"I cannot avoid the disappointing conclusion — it didn't work," Nissen said. "There was basically no effect on outcomes, not even a trend, even in subpopulations."
Novartis first said on September 4 that the trial had missed its main goal.
The company will keep one study running in calcific aortic valve stenosis, a narrowing of the heart's main valve, Novartis said in a statement.
Analysts once saw pelacarsen as a potential blockbuster, according to Bloomberg. Novartis licensed the drug from Ionis Pharmaceuticals (IONS).
Novo Nordisk (NVO) had a similar letdown at the same meeting. Its drug ziltivekimab, which blocks an inflammation protein, did not significantly reduce heart attacks, strokes or heart deaths in more than 6,300 high-risk patients with heart and kidney disease. Novo had already reported that the trial missed its main goal.
Rival Lp(a) drugs from Eli Lilly (LLY) and Amgen (AMGN) are still in trials that test whether they prevent heart events. They block Lp(a) in a different way than pelacarsen.
Nissen told CNN that Lp(a) may need to fall further, or patients may need treatment before a first heart attack, for the approach to work.
Novartis has its own follow-on drug, DII235, a once-a-year Lp(a) injection. On its October 27 earnings call, the company said it was still weighing whether to develop it further.
Shares of Novartis gained modestly in premarket trading, up around 0.7%. Shares are up 18% YTD.
Sources & Further Reading
- "Novartis Abandons Heart Drug After Surprising Failure in Key Study." Bloomberg. November 7, 2026.
- "Lp(a) HORIZON trial: Lp(a) fell by 78%, but cardiovascular outcomes unexpectedly neutral." American Heart Association. November 7, 2026.
- "A promising drug for an inherited heart risk flops, stunning doctors." CNN. November 7, 2026.
- "Novartis announces Lp(a)HORIZON Phase III topline results for pelacarsen in patients with elevated Lp(a) and established cardiovascular disease (CVD)." Novartis. September 4, 2026.
- "Researchers say inflammation as a treatment target still important despite neutral results of ZEUS trial." American Heart Association. November 7, 2026.
- "Novo Nordisk Q2 2026 Financial Report." Novo Nordisk. August 5, 2026.
- "Highly anticipated cholesterol drug fails to prevent heart attacks, strokes." NBC News. November 7, 2026.
- "Novartis AG (SWX:NOVN) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript." Stock Analysis. October 27, 2026.
This article was drafted with the help of AI. Gabe Dunsmith fact-checked, edited and published the article and is responsible for its accuracy and quality. How we use AI
