Novartis: antibody cuts cardiovascular risk in trial.

(CercleFinance.com) - Novartis's monoclonal antibody ACZ885 (canakinumab) reduces cardiovascular risk in people who have survived a heart attack, the Swiss company said on Thursday.


The biopharmaceutical firm said a global phase III study investigating the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ACZ885 in combination with standard of care in people who have had a heart attack and inflammatory atherosclerosis met its primary endpoint.

When used in combination with standard of care, ACZ885 cut the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients who have had a heart attack and inflammatory atherosclerosis.

With over 10,000 patients enrolled over the last six years, the trial is one of the largest and longest-running clinical trials in Novartis' history.

It is estimated that about 25% of heart attack survivors will have another cardiovascular event within five years.

Novartis shares are up 2.9 percent in Zurich.

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