Novo Nordisk has halted its HERMES and ATHENA clinical trials evaluating the experimental cardiovascular drug ziltivekimab in heart failure patients. The decision follows a recommendation from an independent data monitoring committee citing a low likelihood of success. This setback, along with a similar trial failure by Novartis, challenges the cardiovascular inflammatory-disease hypothesis and slows Novo Nordisk's strategic push to diversify beyond its core diabetes and obesity portfolio.
Ziltivekimab trial halts
- ▪Novo Nordisk plans to continue a separate clinical trial testing ziltivekimab in patients recovering from a heart attack, with results expected in the first half of 2027
- ▪Novo Nordisk halted two clinical trials, named HERMES and ATHENA, which were evaluating the experimental drug ziltivekimab in heart failure patients
- ▪Novo Nordisk informed clinical trial investigators of its decision to halt the HERMES and ATHENA trials on September 4, 2026
- ▪Novo Nordisk ended the HERMES and ATHENA trials ahead of schedule after an independent data monitoring committee found a low likelihood of clinical success
Cardiovascular inflammation hypothesis setback
- ▪The halting of the ziltivekimab trials further dents Novo Nordisk's efforts to diversify its business beyond its blockbuster obesity and diabetes drug franchise
- ▪Novo Nordisk reported in July 2026 that ziltivekimab failed to reduce the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, including death, stroke, and heart attack, in its late-stage ZEUS trial
- ▪The failure of ziltivekimab, alongside a similar late-stage trial failure of an experimental drug by Novartis, has raised questions about the cardiovascular inflammatory-disease hypothesis
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