Novartis: will not move forward with UK anti-cholesterol drug trial

Novartis has cancelled the development of its heart disease drug, ORION-17, citing lack of efficacy. The drug initially showed promise in clinical trials as a way to reduce LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, but failed to meet expectations in a later stage of testing. The move is a setback for the Swiss pharmaceutical company, which had been hoping to tap into a lucrative market for cholesterol-lowering medications. Novartis will instead focus on its currently approved drug, Leqvio, which has seen success in the UK and other countries as a treatment for high cholesterol. The company has a deal with the NHS in the UK to provide Leqvio to patients at risk of heart disease.