STAT+: Novartis’ experimental cardiovascular drug fails a pivotal study

A closely watched cardiovascular drug from Novartis failed in a pivotal study, the company said Friday, a major blow to the firm and to efforts to target a common heart disease risk factor.  The drug, called pelacarsen, had shown in earlier trials that it could drastically lower levels of what’s called Lp(a), a little blob of lipids and proteins that at elevated concentrations increases the likelihood of severe heart problems. But Novartis said that in the Phase 3 HORIZON trial, pelacarsen faile...