The back-to-back failures of cardiovascular drugs from Novartis and Novo Nordisk made headlines earlier this month. They could also have a chilling effect across the industry.
Just before Labor Day, Novartis reported that its cardiac therapy, pelacarsen, failed in a widely watched, seven-year clinical trial. The drug was designed to reduce the rates of heart attack or stroke by lowering lipoprotein a, or Lp(a), a type of lipid that, at elevated concentrations, increases the likelihood of severe heart problems. An estimated 20% of people have abnormally high levels.
Novartis’ drug was the first stab at a new type of cardiovascular treatment, which multiple other drug companies are also pursuing, investing billions of dollars in their own Lp(a) medications.
