Novo Nordisk halts two cardiovascular inflammation trials for ziltivekimab
Novo Nordisk announced the termination of its HERMES and ATHENA studies of ziltivekimab after a monitoring board deemed success unlikely.
The Danish drugmaker stopped the HERMES and ATHENA cardiovascular trials of its anti-inflammatory candidate ziltivekimab. A data monitoring committee concluded the studies were unlikely to meet their endpoints, prompting the company to inform investigators on Friday. This follows the earlier ZEUS trial, which lowered inflammation markers but failed to cut major heart-related events. The decision marks another setback for the strategy of targeting inflammation to improve heart health.
Why it matters
The halting of these trials questions the promise of anti-inflammatory drugs for heart disease and could impact future research and investment.
In this story
