Sustained reductions in inflammatory markers seen with novel antibody drug
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) antibody pacibekitug produced sustained reductions in inflammatory biomarkers in patients with chronic kidney disease at high inflammatory risk, according to results from the Phase II TRANQUILITY trial presented in a Hot Line session at ESC Congress 2026.
A novel antibody drug called pacibekitug has shown promise in reducing inflammatory markers in patients with chronic kidney disease at a high risk of cardiovascular disease, according to findings from the Phase II TRANQUILITY trial presented at ESC Congress 2026. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been identified as a key player in the inflammatory pathway linked to cardiovascular risk, and pacibekitug is a long-acting monoclonal antibody targeting IL-6.
In the trial, 143 patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3-4 and elevated hs-CRP levels were randomized to receive subcutaneous doses of pacibekitug every 30, 90, or 180 days, or a placebo for six months. The results demonstrated significant and sustained reductions in hs-CRP levels of up to 89% over 180 days with pacibekitug, compared to only a 7% increase with placebo.
Other inflammatory markers, fibrinogen, and lipoprotein(a) also decreased with pacibekitug treatment. The drug was well tolerated with minimal side effects. While the initial results are encouraging, further research is needed to determine if these biomarker effects translate into improved cardiovascular outcomes in larger, longer-term phase III trials.
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