Novartis Ends Study of Pelacarsen as Treatment for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

12:42 AM EST, 11/08/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Novartis (NOVN.SW) stopped pursuing its experimental drug pelacarsen as a treatment for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease after it was unable to prevent heart attacks and cardiovascular deaths in several analyzed groups, Bloomberg News reported Nov. 7, citing a company statement. While the monthly injection dramatically reduced levels of an inherited form of cholesterol, it had no impact on strokes. The study was neither harmful nor helpful, Cleveland Clinic Cardiologist Steven Nissen wrote in a paper published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Swiss pharmaceutical giant will move ahead with another trial of pelacarsen in patients with a heart valve disease called calcific aortic valve stenosis. Novartis did not immediately respond to a request for comment from MT Newswires.