Novartis to end pelacarsen development for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, but keep valve trial

Novartis will stop developing pelacarsen for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease while continuing a heart-valve trial. In more than 8,300 patients with a previous major cardiovascular event, the drug sharply lowered Lp(a) but failed to improve cardiovascular outcomes over a median 4.7 years. The result does not settle whether other Lp(a)-targeting drugs can work, and researchers caution against abandoning the target.