GoKawiilNovartis's pelacarsen fails to cut heart-attack risk in Lp(a) trial
Novartis announced in early September that pelacarsen, a drug designed to lower lipoprotein(a), did not reduce cardiovascular events such as heart attacks, strokes and emergency bypass surgery in patients with existing heart disease. The Lp(a)HORIZON trial had tested whether an 80%-plus reduction in Lp(a) levels would translate into fewer clinical events, but the company has not explained why the trial failed, and did not respond to requests for comment.