Novo Nordisk’s Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes trial Zeus failed after its IL-6 inhibitor ziltivekimab did not reduce major adverse cardiovascular events versus placebo. Novo reported an HR of 0.99 (95% CI 0.88–1.11) after enrolling more than 6,300 patients across the study population. The company said the therapy inhibited the IL-6 pathway and reduced high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, but the mechanism did not translate into a clinical risk reduction effect. The setback is immediately relevant to developers and investors watching inflammatory biology as a route to cardiovascular endpoints. The failure also adds pressure to Novo’s broader CKD and inflammation-adjacent pipeline choices, as analysts reassess which anti-inflammatory strategies can survive the translation from biomarker impact to outcomes benefit.