Novartis announced that its closely watched Phase 3 cholesterol study failed to meet its primary goal. The trial evaluated a drug designed to reduce LDL cholesterol and lower the risk of cardiovascular events.

According to the Wall Street Journal US Business, the Phase 3 study found a drug didn’t reduce the risk of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. The results represent a significant setback for Novartis, which had high expectations for the therapy.

The drug, part of a new class of cholesterol-lowering medications, was tested across multiple clinical sites. Despite achieving substantial LDL reduction, the compound did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events over the study period.

Novartis plans to review the full data set with regulators and explore potential next steps, including further analysis or combination studies. The company emphasized its continued commitment to cardiovascular research and development.