Argo Biopharma's siRNA Therapeutic BW-20829 Enters Phase 2b Trial for Elevated Lipoprotein(a) and Cardiovascular Disease
Key Insights
Argo Biopharma (search) announced the first patient has been dosed in a global Phase 2b clinical trial of BW-20829, an siRNA therapeutic targeting elevated Lipoprotein(a) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (search).
The trial is sponsored by Novartis under an exclusive license and collaboration agreement, marking the sixth asset from Argo's pipeline to enter mid-stage global clinical development.
BW-20829 was developed using Argo's proprietary RADS™ platform and is designed to enable potent, durable gene silencing through hepatic delivery with differentiated safety characteristics.
Argo Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd. announced that the first patient has been dosed in a global Phase 2b clinical trial evaluating BW-20829 (also known as DII235 (search)), an siRNA therapeutic targeting adults with elevated Lipoprotein(a) and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (search). The trial is sponsored by Novartis under an exclusive license and collaboration agreement with Argo Biopharma (search).
The milestone triggers milestone payments to Argo Biopharma (search), which will support ongoing research and development efforts across the company's hepatic and extra-hepatic siRNA portfolio. BW-20829 represents the sixth asset in Argo's pipeline to enter mid-stage global clinical development.
Addressing Critical Cardiovascular Needs
"We are pleased that Novartis has advanced BW-20829 into Phase 2b clinical development," said Dr. Dongxu Shu, Co-Founder, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer of Argo Biopharma (search). "This milestone underscores the strength of Argo's discovery and early clinical development capabilities, together with Novartis' scientific rigor and speed of execution to bring forward therapeutic options for patients' unmet cardiovascular needs."
Dr. Shu emphasized the clinical significance of this development, noting that cardiovascular disease (search) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. "The progression of BW-20829 into Phase 2b represents a meaningful step toward the potential development of additional therapeutic options for patients with elevated cardiovascular risk," he stated.
Novel siRNA Platform Technology
BW-20829 is an siRNA therapeutic developed from Argo's proprietary RADS™ platform. The therapeutic is designed to enable potent, durable gene silencing with differentiated safety and delivery characteristics through hepatic delivery. This approach targets the liver, where Lipoprotein(a) is primarily produced, offering a potential mechanism to reduce elevated levels of this cardiovascular risk factor.
The Phase 2b clinical study is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier NCT07235046, titled "A Study of DII235 (search) in Adults With Elevated Lipoprotein(a)."
Expanding Pipeline Development
Argo Biopharma (search) continues to advance a cardiovascular and specialty disease pipeline via hepatic siRNA technology. The company maintains an earlier-stage portfolio of extra-hepatic siRNAs targeting multiple tissue types and therapeutic areas. Currently, Argo Biopharma has six RNAi candidates in clinical development across a diverse range of indications, including cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, metabolic conditions, and specialty/rare diseases.
The advancement of BW-20829 into Phase 2b development demonstrates the potential of Argo's next-generation RNAi therapeutics platform to address significant unmet medical needs in cardiovascular medicine.