FDA Approves New Heart Drug by Novartis

January 10, 2022

Novartis’s genetic drug Levqio was approved by the FDA in December, but hurdles remain for long-term sales. The drug, which dramatically reduces bad cholesterol from the blood with only two injections per year, is similar to other recently released drugs to middling sales. In addition, questions remain as to the impact of this class of drugs on actual cardiac events.

According to Jonathan Gardner, of BioPharma Dive, “Moreover, long-term results from clinical trials showed the drugs didn’t prevent heart attacks, strokes and deaths as well as many experts had expected based on their ability to lower cholesterol. Compared to placebo, both Repatha and Praluent reduced the risk of so-called major adverse cardiovascular events by about 15%.”