Experimental Heart Drug Fails to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk

A large clinical trial led by Dr. Steven Nissen found that pelacarsen, an experimental drug designed to lower lipoprotein (a) levels, did not reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attacks or strokes.

The study involved 8,350 patients who had previously experienced a cardiovascular event and had high levels of Lp(a). Half were given pelacarsen, and the other half received a placebo. Neither the patients nor the researchers knew who received which treatment.

At the end of the study, patients taking pelacarsen had significantly lower Lp(a) levels compared to the placebo group. However, there was no difference in the rate of serious cardiovascular events between the two groups.

The drug was expected to be a breakthrough in treating a condition that affects over a billion people worldwide. Novartis, which invested heavily in the drug’s development, has decided to stop further development after the study’s results were published.

The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology recently recommended testing for Lp(a) in all adults, but no specific treatments currently exist for high Lp(a) levels. Researchers are now questioning whether targeting Lp(a) is the right approach to reducing heart disease risk.

Dr. Steven Nissen and other experts are considering various factors that may have influenced the study’s outcomes, including the age of the patients, their existing cholesterol levels, and the possibility that even greater reductions in Lp(a) may be needed to show a benefit.