STAT+: Failure of Novartis Lp(a) drug raises questions about cardiovascular strategy
Medical mystery at the AHA conference: A Novartis drug lowered a risk marker for cardiovascular disease but did not lower chance of heart attack or stroke.
Lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk factor for cardiovascular disease carried by one in five individuals, is the focus of novel therapies seeking to reduce heart attacks, strokes, and fatalities among at-risk individuals. The area of research surrounding the particle experienced a setback this year when early results indicated an experimental drug lowered Lp(a) but did not result in decreased serious outcomes.
The specifics of the study, which was funded by Novartis, were disclosed on Saturday at the American Heart Association's scientific sessions and published concurrently in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The Phase 3 trial demonstrated that the drug pelacarsen significantly reduced Lp(a), which is a combination of lipids and proteins that, when present at high levels, can increase the risk of severe heart issues. However, despite the lower Lp(a) levels, the HORIZON trial found no difference in heart attacks, strokes, urgent coronary revascularization, or deaths among participants who were randomly assigned to receive either the drug or a placebo and followed for nearly five years. As you continue to read STAT+, you can find the full story unfolding.
Written by urgent.news from STAT News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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