Novo Nordisk’s IL-6 drug ziltivekimab misses Phase 3 cardiovascular endpoint, shares drop 9%

Novo Nordisk announced that its IL-6 inhibitor ziltivekimab did not meet the primary goal in a late-stage Phase 3 trial aimed at lowering major cardiovascular events.

The ZEUS study enrolled patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and systemic inflammation. While the drug lowered inflammatory markers, it failed to reduce heart attacks, strokes or cardiovascular death compared with placebo.

The negative result sent Novo’s shares down nearly 9% to about $47 per share in early Friday trading.

The setback comes as Novo seeks a differentiator from rival Eli Lilly’s GLP-1 portfolio in the crowded cardiometabolic market, and the failure may delay any near-term pipeline advantage.