AstraZeneca's oral relaxin agonist shows positive phase 2b results in chronic heart failure

AstraZeneca presented phase 2b data from its Luminara trial at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Munich. The study evaluated the oral relaxin agonist AZD5462 in patients with chronic heart failure.

The trial enrolled two cohorts: 235 patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 35% or less and 140 patients with an LVEF of 41% to 55%. Participants were randomized to receive placebo or AZD5462 at doses of 20 mg, 80 mg, or 360 mg once daily in a double‑blind, dose‑ranging design.

In the severe heart‑failure group (LVEF ≤ 35%), the lowest dose of AZD5462 reduced the end‑systolic volume index by 5.4 mL/m² compared with baseline, indicating an improvement in cardiac function. Results for the moderate‑severity cohort and other secondary endpoints were not detailed in the release.