American Heart Association

Phase II trial results of Silence Therapeutics' zerlasiran, a gene-silencing therapy targeting elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), showed 80-85% reduction in Lp(a) levels and 25-30% reduction in LDL-C over 36-60 weeks, with no significant safety concerns. Zerlasiran addresses the unmet need for Lp(a)-specific therapies, offering a targeted approach to reduce cardiovascular risk.

Zerlasiran, an siRNA, reduced time-averaged Lp(a) concentrations by over 80% in a 36-week trial, marking the first time such reduction has been reported for an siRNA therapy. The study suggests that each successive dose of zerlasiran extends the duration of Lp(a) reduction, informing future phase 3 trials and potentially optimal dosing strategies for other siRNA therapies.

Eli Lilly's muvalaplin and Silence Therapeutics' zerlasiran, both targeting lipoprotein(a), showed promising results in Phase II trials, with reductions of up to 86% in Lp(a) levels. These results were presented at the American Heart Association conference and published in JAMA.

Fanaroff: Research grants from American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health; consulting fees from Abbott Laboratories. Vora: Consulting fees from Medtronic. Mehran: Institutional research grants from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Beth Israel Deaconess, Bristol Myers Squibb/Sanofi, CSL Behring, Eli Lilly/Daiichi Sankyo, Medtronic, Novartis, OrbusNeich; consulting fees from Boston Scientific, Abbott Vascular, Medscape, Siemens Medical Solutions, Roivant Sciences Inc, Sanofi; consulting (no fees) for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc; institutional consulting fees from Abbott Vascular, Spectranetics/Phillips/Volcano Corporation, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Watermark Research; Executive committee member for Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Bristol Myers Squibb; <1% equity in Claret Medical and Elixir Medical. Granger: Research grants from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Janssen, Pfizer, Armetheon, AstraZeneca, US Food and Drug Administration, GlaxoSmithKline, The Medicines Company, Medtronic Foundation, Medtronic Inc, Novartis; consulting fees from Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Boston Scientific, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Janssen, Pfizer, Abbvie, Armetheon, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Hoffmann-La Roche, The Medicines Company, National Institutes of Health, Novartis, Sirtex, Verseon, Apple, Medscape, LLC, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Roche Diagnostics, Rho Pharmaceuticals. Goodman: Research grant support and/or speaker/consulting honoraria from Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, CSL Behring, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eli Lilly, Esperion, Fenix Group International, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, HLS Therapeutics, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Luitpold Pharmaceuticals, Matrizyme, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk A/C, Pfizer, Regeneron, Sanofi, Servier, Tenax Therapeutics, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario/University of Toronto, Canadian Heart Research Centre and MD Primer, Canadian VIGOUR Centre, Duke Clinical Research Institute, PERFUSE. Aronson: Employee of Bristol Myers Squibb. Windecker: Institutional research and educational grants from Abbott, Amgen, Bayer, BMS, CSL Behring, Boston Scientific, Biotronik, Edwards Lifesciences, Medtronic, Polares, Sinomed. Alexander: Research grants from Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca, CryoLife, CSL Behring, US Food and Drug Administration, National Institutes of Health, Sanofi, VoluMetrix; consulting fees from Pfizer, Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie Pharmaceuticals, CSL Behring, Novo Nordisk, Portola Pharmaceuticals, Quantum Genomics, Teikoku Pharmaceuticals, VA Cooperative Studies, Zafgen. Lopes: Research grants from Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Amgen, Inc, GlaxoSmithKline, Medtronic PLC, Sanofi Aventis; consulting fees from Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer AG. The other authors report no conflicts.

BridgeBio's acoramidis, a transthyretin stabilizer, may soon compete with Pfizer's tafamidis for treating transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Acoramidis, with an FDA action date of Nov. 29, could see approval, potentially challenging Pfizer's established position in the $5.2 billion ATTR-CM market. BridgeBio's Phase III trial showed acoramidis improved survival rates and reduced hospitalizations, though it faces challenges like twice-daily dosing and lack of mortality benefit data compared to tafamidis. Emerging RNA therapies, like Alnylam's Amvuttra and Intellia's nex-z, also show promise in treating ATTR-CM.

A study by Intermountain Health found 40% of newly diagnosed heart failure patients also had atrial fibrillation, leading to worse outcomes. Regular AF screening in heart failure patients is recommended for more aggressive therapy.

FDA rejects Astellas' label change for eye drug Izervay; Cytokinetics and Bayer partner for heart drug aficamten in Japan; Eli Lilly's muvalaplin and Silence Therapeutics' zerlasiran show promise in reducing lipoprotein(a) levels; former NCI director Ned Sharpless launches biotech Jupiter; Merck's new Keytruda formulation proves effective; global drug access in low- and middle-income countries remains limited; AHA conference highlights obesity drugs, blood pressure management, and novel treatments for heart conditions.

Cardiol Therapeutics' CardiolRx™ showed significant improvements in pericarditis pain and inflammation in a phase II trial, supporting planned Phase III trials for prevention of recurrence. The drug was safe and well-tolerated, with potential to offer a more accessible treatment option for pericarditis patients.

Edoxaban, a newer blood thinner, was found as effective as warfarin in preventing stroke and blood clots after heart valve surgery, with fewer monitoring requirements and no interactions with other meds, according to Japanese researchers. However, edoxaban had higher rates of major bleeding and gastrointestinal bleeding compared to warfarin.

Ablation, typically Plan B for rapid heartbeat after heart attack, should be first-line treatment, suggests research presented at American Heart Association meeting and published in NEJM. Lead author Dr. John Sapp says ablation, targeting abnormal scar tissue, offers better outcomes than medications, which can affect other organs. Study of 416 patients with implanted defibrillators found ablation reduced death and VT episodes by 25%.