Novo Nordisk halts two cardiovascular trials of inflammation-targeting drug ziltivekimab

Novo Nordisk announced it is halting the HERMES and ATHENA cardiovascular trials of its experimental drug ziltivekimab, which was intended to lower inflammation to improve heart health.

A data monitoring committee concluded the studies were unlikely to achieve their primary endpoints, prompting the company to inform investigators of the stoppage.

The move follows the earlier ZEUS trial, where the drug lowered inflammatory markers but failed to reduce major clinical events such as heart attacks and deaths.

These successive setbacks deal a further blow to the approach of targeting inflammation as a means to mitigate cardiovascular risk.