News / US / cnbc
Novartis Cardiovascular Trial Misses Primary Goal, Pressuring Lp(a) Drug Race
Health Technology · Pharmaceuticals: Major · cnbc · 2026-09-08
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Novartis shares dipped after its experimental drug pelacarsen failed to significantly improve cardiovascular outcomes in a late-stage clinical trial.
What Happened
Clinical Trial Disappointment: Novartis reported that its experimental drug pelacarsen, developed with Ionis Pharmaceuticals, failed to show a significant improvement in cardiovascular outcomes during a late-stage study. Although the treatment successfully reduced lipoprotein(a) levels, the lack of a clear clinical benefit for patients has cast doubt on the broader therapeutic hypothesis.
Industry-Wide Implications: The failure of this trial has negatively impacted other companies in the cardiovascular space, including Amgen, Eli Lilly, and NewAmsterdam Pharma. Analysts suggest that this setback increases the risk profile for similar drugs currently in development, as the market for Lp(a) treatments was previously estimated to be worth billions.
Scientific and Regulatory Context: Lp(a) is a genetically determined cholesterol factor that significantly increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes, yet no targeted treatment is currently approved. Researchers are now debating whether the trial's failure stems from the specific drug mechanism, the study design, or the difficulty of proving benefits in patients already receiving optimized standard care.
Future Outlook for Competitors: Despite the negative results, some experts believe that alternative technologies being tested by rivals like Amgen and Lilly might still succeed if they achieve deeper reductions in Lp(a). Novartis intends to present full data at an upcoming medical congress, which will be critical for determining the future viability of this drug class in cardiovascular risk management.