Novartis launches Phase 3 cardiovascular trial for IL-6 antibody after rival's setback

At the ESC 2026 congress in Munich, Novartis announced plans to start a Phase 3 study testing its anti-IL-6 antibody as a way to lower cardiovascular risk in patients with elevated inflammation. The decision comes despite a recent failure by Novo Nordisk in a similar mechanism. The trial will focus on preventing major cardiovascular events in high-risk individuals.

At the European Society of Cardiology congress in Munich, Novartis revealed plans to advance its anti-IL-6 antibody into a Phase 3 cardiovascular trial. The study will target patients with elevated inflammatory markers who also face heightened risk of serious heart events, aiming to reduce the occurrence of major cardiovascular complications.

The move follows a recent disappointment for Novo Nordisk, whose drug working through a similar biological pathway failed to deliver expected results. Novartis's decision suggests continued belief in inflammation as a treatable driver of heart disease, even as the broader field reassesses how best to intervene in this mechanism.