Novartis' LCZ696 meets heart failure endpoint

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) said LCZ696 met the primary endpoint in the Phase II PARAMOUNT trial to treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF). The product significantly reduced N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a biomarker of left ventricular wall stress, from baseline to week 12 vs. valsartan. The double-blind trial enrolled 266 evaluable patients. LCZ696 also significantly reduced left atrial volume and width from baseline to week 36 vs. valsartan. There were no significant changes between treatment groups in left ventricular volumes, ejection fraction or left ventricular mass at 12 or 36 weeks. LCZ696 is a dual inhibitor of angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor and neutral endopeptidase ( neprilysin; MME; NEP; CD10). Data were presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Munich and published in The Lancet. ...