Pfizer and Ionis End Vupanorsen Program for Heart Disease

After disappointing phase 2 results, Pfizer and Ionis Pharmaceuticals have scrapped their development program for vupanorsen for heart disease and severe hyperglyceridemia indications.

Vupanorsen targets the angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3) molecule produced in the liver that has been linked to higher levels of coronary artery disease. Though it reduced nonhigh-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride levels in study participants, the reduction wasn’t enough to warrant continued development, the companies said, adding that the drug was also linked with increases in liver fat.

Pfizer will return vupanorsen’s exclusive global rights to Ionis, which it acquired in a November 2019 licensing deal.