Novartis' canakinumab reduces CV risk in MI patients

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) reported top-line data from the Phase III CANTOS trial in 10,061 patients who had a prior myocardial infarction (MI) and inflammatory atherosclerosis showing that subcutaneous Ilaris canakinumab (ACZ885) plus standard of care (SOC) met the primary endpoint of reducing the time to first occurrence of a major adverse cardiovascular (CV) event (MACE) consisting of CV death, non-fatal MI or non-fatal stroke vs. placebo plus SOC. The trial enrolled patients with a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) level of ≥2 mg/L and evaluated 50, 150 and 300 mg doses of canakinumab given every 3 months. Novartis did not disclose which dose level or levels of canakinumab met the primary endpoint. Additional data will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Barcelona in August.

The double-blind, international trial’s secondary endpoints include time to first occurrence of CV death, non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke or hospitalization for unstable angina requiring unplanned revascularization, time to new onset of Type II diabetes in prediabetic patients, time to occurrence of non-fatal MI, non-fatal stroke or all-cause mortality, and time to all-cause mortality...