ACC24 Highlights: Triumphs for Novo and Ionis; Setbacks for Boehringer and Lilly

At the recent 73rd Annual Scientific Session & Expo (ACC24) hosted by the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta, several groundbreaking studies were presented, showcasing advancements in cardiovascular care.

Novo Nordisk presented data from the Phase III STEP-HFpEF study, indicating that Wegovy (semaglutide) could potentially alleviate symptoms and physical limitations in obese patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes. The drug showed a significant reduction in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire clinical summary score, body weight, and C-reactive protein levels. The findings were published in The New England Journal of Medicine and have been submitted to the FDA for Wegovy’s label expansion to include HFpEF.

Ionis Pharmaceuticals announced positive results from the Phase III BALANCE study, where its investigational therapy olezarsen demonstrated a significant reduction in triglyceride levels in patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome. The treatment led to a 44% reduction at six months and a 59% reduction at twelve months, with fewer acute pancreatitis events. Ionis is working with the FDA for olezarsen’s regulatory application.

Boehringer Ingelheim and Eli Lilly’s EMPACT-MI trial revealed that Jardiance (empagliflozin) did not significantly reduce the risk of heart failure hospitalization or death in patients post-acute myocardial infarction. However, it did show a 23% reduction in the risk of first hospitalization for heart failure. The trial’s primary endpoint did not reach statistical significance.

Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals shared Phase IIb data for plozasiran, an RNAi therapy, which showed a 74% reduction in triglyceride levels in patients at risk of acute pancreatitis. The drug also lowered ApoC3 protein levels by 48%. These results support the initiation of pivotal studies for the treatment of severe hypertriglyceridemia.

These studies reflect the ongoing efforts in the medical community to develop innovative treatments for cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders, aiming to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.