The 8,323-patient Lp(a)HORIZON trial failed its cardiovascular primary; Amgen shares fell about 10% on class read-through.
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Novartis said Sep. 4 that pelacarsen Phase III Lp(a)HORIZON did not meet its primary endpoint of cutting cardiovascular-event risk versus placebo in 8,323 patients with elevated Lp(a) and established CVD. The composite covered cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and urgent coronary revascularization requiring hospitalization. Lp(a) levels fell, but outcomes did not follow. Full data are due at a medical congress; no hazard ratio was disclosed.
Partner Ionis issued a matching release. Analysts called the miss a setback for Amgen’s olpasiran and Lilly’s lepodisiran, without declaring the biological target dead.
On Sep. 8 Amgen fell about 10% versus the prior close on class read-through. Novartis ADRs dropped more steeply amid stacked pipeline hits, including a separate del-desiran miss. Amgen also reported a positive DeLLphi-305 overall-survival win for Imdelltra the same day.
Sources: Novartis / Ionis PRs Sep. 4; Amgen PR Sep. 8; market wires.
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