Novartis’ antisense therapy pelacarsen failed to demonstrate cardiovascular benefit in its Phase 3 Lp(a)HORIZON outcomes study, according to the company’s announcement. While earlier trials showed marked reductions in lipoprotein(a) levels, the late-stage study did not improve the risk of cardiovascular death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, or urgent coronary revascularization. Analysts framed the result as a setback for the broader class of Lp(a)-lowering programs, which include siRNA and antisense approaches aimed at establishing clinical outcomes beyond biomarker reduction. BMO Capital Markets described the news as raising the burden of proof for similarly positioned assets from Lilly and Amgen, both of which are in late-stage outcomes work after demonstrating strong Lp(a) reductions. The Phase 3 miss follows a broader sequence of setbacks for Novartis, including other late-stage disruptions cited in the report, underscoring investor sensitivity to whether Lp(a) lowering can translate into measurable event reduction for patients.