The lipoprotein(a)-lowering antisense drug olpasiran reduced the cardiovascular disease risk factor Lp(a) by up to 101.1% relative to placebo. A Phase III trial will begin in December. 

The US- and China-based biotech is expanding three oncology-centered clinical studies of two TGF-1/COX-2-targeted siRNA drug candidates from the US into China.

Good news in the biopharma industry and the US economy gave public drug developers the boost they needed to raise cash, including Karuna’s $750m offering. Private company financings slowed during the second week of August, but Prellis and Vector BioPharma raised venture capital.

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.