Amgen To Rapidly Move Olpasiran Into Phase III For Lp(a) Reduction

The siRNA drug demonstrated a significant reduction in lipoprotein(a) from baseline of up to or greater than 90% for the majority of doses in a Phase II trial; Novartis has a potential first-to-market advantage.

chess piece advancing — Amgen is advancing olpasiran into Phase III • Source: Shutterstock

Amgen, Inc. plans to move quickly into a Phase III development program with its cardiovascular drug candidate olpasiran, a small interfering RNA drug targeting lipoprotein(a), following a successful Phase II study. There are no approved drugs to lower Lp(a) levels, but Amgen is behind rival Novartis AG in the effort to bring the first to market; Novartis has the Lp(a)-targeting drug pelacarsen in Phase III development.

Amgen said it hopes to advance olpasiran quickly. "In parallel to the Phase II program, we've been planning a Phase...