Hopes for a precision approach for the vast cardiovascular disease population live on – past failed studies of HDL-raising drugs and lack of evidence for genetic typing in Merck's latest analysis of anacetrapib in REVEAL.

This week's announcements include two CEO resignations at Nordic Nanovector and Verona Pharma, new CEOs at DalCor Pharmaceuticals and PureTech Health, new CMOs at Medigene, Argenx, Pneuma Respiratory and ReNeuron, plus board appointments.

Amgen ended its own development of the CETP inhibitor AMG 899, but will see if anyone else wants to license the drug. Meanwhile, the company is focusing on new drugs and assets in development to offset declining sales for Enbrel and other blockbusters.

Despite success in REVEAL outcomes trial, Merck will not submit the for the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor for regulatory approval.