Live Feeds
● LIVE Updated 1h ago · 12 sources tracked

Novartis Shares Fall After Heart Drug Misses Target in Late-Stage Trial

A major Novartis shareholder has demanded a board shake-up following recent clinical trial failures for the Swiss drugmaker. Novartis previously announced that its heart drug pelacarsen missed its primary goal in a large late-stage clinical trial, failing to reduce heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular deaths despite successfully lowering lipoprotein(a). This setback occurred alongside a missed primary endpoint for the muscle-wasting disorder drug del-desiran, putting pressure on company leadership and causing sharp share drops for partners Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Amgen.

RSS Source map (12)

What changed

A major Novartis shareholder has officially called for a board shake-up in the wake of the company's recent clinical trial setbacks.

Live updates

  1. Novartis Shareholder Demands Board Overhaul After Major Drug Failures

    A major Novartis shareholder has demanded a board shake-up following recent clinical trial failures for the Swiss drugmaker. Novartis previously announced that its heart drug pelacarsen missed its primary goal in a large late-stage clinical trial, failing to reduce heart attacks, strokes, or cardiovascular deaths despite successfully lowering lipoprotein(a). This setback occurred alongside a missed primary endpoint for the muscle-wasting disorder drug del-desiran, putting pressure on company leadership and causing sharp share drops for partners Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Amgen.

    Why it matters

    Cardiologists had widely anticipated that pelacarsen would become a major new tool for preventing cardiac events. The consecutive trial misses for two high-profile therapeutics have damaged investor confidence in the pharmaceutical pipeline and prompted demands for corporate governance changes at the highest levels of the Swiss drugmaker.

    What is confirmed

    • A major shareholder in Novartis has called for a shake-up of the Swiss drugmaker.
    • Novartis announced that a drug widely expected to become a major weapon against heart attacks has failed in a large clinical trial.

    What to watch next

    • Response from Novartis leadership regarding the shareholder demand for a board shake-up
    • Further market reactions and partner updates from Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Amgen
    Sources used for this update (4)
    1. medicalxpress.com — Cardiologists expected this new drug to prevent heart attacks—so why did it fail?
    2. finance.yahoo.com — Exclusive-Major Novartis shareholder calls for board shake-up after drug trial setbacks
    3. www.marketscreener.com — HSBC Adjusts Price Target on Eli Lilly and Co. to $940 From $850, Keeps Reduce Rating
    4. www.marketscreener.com — Eli Lilly Looks to Channel GLP-1 Revenue Into Women's Health
    confidence 100%

  2. Novartis Shares Plunge After Heart Drug Fails to Reduce Cardiovascular Events

    Novartis shares fell between 13.5% and 14% after its heart drug pelacarsen failed a phase 3 trial. While the drug successfully lowered lipoprotein(a), a genetic risk factor, it did not reduce the occurrence of strokes, heart attacks, or cardiovascular deaths. This failure coincides with a miss on the primary endpoint for del-desiran, a muscle-wasting disorder drug linked to a 12 billion dollar deal. The combined setbacks have pressured Novartis leadership and triggered share price drops for partners Ionis Pharmaceuticals and Amgen.

    Why it matters

    The failure of pelacarsen creates uncertainty regarding the viability of the Lp(a) cholesterol drug class. Novartis is facing simultaneous pipeline pressure due to the failure of del-desiran, which now leaves two Avidity programs to justify a takeover. These results contributed to a broader decline in health-care sector stocks.

    What is confirmed

    • Novartis shares fell between 13.5% and 14%.
    • Pelacarsen lowered lipoprotein(a) but failed to reduce cardiovascular deaths, strokes, or heart attacks.
    • The drug del-desiran missed its primary endpoint.

    Still unconfirmed

    • Ionis Pharmaceuticals has a mean price target of 84.24 dollars according to FactSet analysts.

    What to watch next

    • Further analyst price target adjustments for Ionis Pharmaceuticals.
    Sources used for this update (5)
    1. finance.yahoo.com — Amgen's Olpasiran May Still Show Heart-Risk Reduction Despite Novartis Miss, UBS Says
    2. www.yahoo.com — Doctors stunned after promising heart drug fails major study
    3. finance.yahoo.com — Novartis Crashes 13.5% After $12 Billion Deal's Lead Drug Fails
    4. www.marketscreener.com — Health Care Down as Novartis, Boston Scientific Weigh - Health Care Roundup
    5. www.marketscreener.com — BofA Adjusts Price Target on Ionis Pharmaceuticals to $91 From $93
    confidence 90%

  3. Novartis Heart Drug Pelacarsen Fails Phase 3 Trial

    Novartis shares fell 14% after its Lp(a) drug, pelacarsen, failed to lower cardiovascular risk in a phase 3 trial. The failure impacted partners and competitors, causing Ionis Pharmaceuticals shares to drop 13.1% to $50 and Amgen shares to fall 10%. This result raises questions about the viability of the emerging Lp(a) cholesterol drug class. The setback follows another late-stage study failure for a Novartis muscle-wasting disorder drug, del-desiran, increasing pressure on the company's pipeline and leadership.

    Why it matters

    Lp(a) drugs target a specific type of cholesterol to reduce heart disease risk. This failure creates uncertainty for other companies developing similar medicines. The timing coincides with a second clinical setback for Novartis within a few days.

    What is confirmed

    • The Novartis Lp(a) drug pelacarsen failed to lower cardiovascular risk in a phase 3 trial.
    • Novartis stock dropped 14% following the trial results.
    • Ionis Pharmaceuticals shares fell 13.1% to $50.
    • Amgen shares fell 10% as the trial results clouded the cholesterol drug class.
    • Novartis reported a second late-stage study failure for an experimental muscle-wasting disorder drug called del-desiran.

    What to watch next

    • Further analysis of the pelacarsen trial data to determine why it missed the primary endpoint
    • Company statements from Novartis CEO regarding pipeline pressure
    • Amgen's response to the impact of the Novartis failure on its own Lp(a) program
    Sources used for this update (10)
    1. The New York Times — Another Heart Drug Fails, Shocking Cardiologists
    2. fiercebiotech.com — Novartis Lp(a) drug fails to lower cardiovascular risk in closely watched ph. 3 trial
    3. BioPharma Dive — Novartis, Ionis drug failure spurs questions about an emerging class of heart medicines
    4. Reuters — Novartis cholesterol setback tests hopes for emerging heart disease drugs
    5. WSJ — Novartis Shares Fall After Heart Drug Misses Target in Late-Stage Trial
    6. FirstWord Pharma — Novartis' pelacarsen fails critical cardiovascular test
    7. finance.yahoo.com — Amgen Shares Fall as Investors Assess Novartis Lp(a) Trial Result and BMO Downgrade
    8. finance.yahoo.com — Ionis Pharmaceuticals Shares Fall After Pelacarsen Phase 3 Trial Misses Primary Endpoint
    9. 247wallst.com — Amgen Falls 10% as Novartis Trial Failure Clouds a Cholesterol Drug Class; NVS Stock Drops 14%
    10. wsau.com — Novartis twin drug trial setbacks pile pressure on pipeline, CEO
    confidence 100%