BASEL, Switzerland, August 19, 2026
Novartis will present data from 10 abstracts across its cardiovascular portfolio at the 2026 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress, highlighting ongoing efforts to address persistent cardiovascular risk and unmet needs in cardiovascular care. The company’s ESC 2026 program covers established medicines and investigational therapies spanning lipid management, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, inflammation and cardiovascular risk assessment. Among the key presentations are late-breaking Phase IV VICTORION-CHALLENGE data evaluating Leqvio® (inclisiran) against bempedoic acid for achievement of LDL-C goals, additional analyses from AZALEA-TIMI 71 examining bleeding events with investigational therapy abelacimab, and findings from Lp(a)CCELERATE, a collaboration with the European Atherosclerosis Society focused on improving implementation of guideline-recommended lipoprotein(a) testing. The breadth of the program positions cardiovascular research and clinical evidence generation at the center of Novartis’ presence at the congress.
Leqvio Data Focus on LDL-C Goal Achievement
A major focus of Novartis’ ESC 2026 cardiovascular program will be Leqvio (inclisiran) and strategies for achieving recommended LDL-C targets in patients at high and very high cardiovascular risk. The late-breaking Phase IV VICTORION-CHALLENGE presentation will provide head-to-head data comparing inclisiran with bempedoic acid for LDL-C lowering. The trial is scheduled for a late-breaking oral presentation on August 31. Additional exploratory findings from the VICTORION-Difference trial will examine whether an inclisiran-based treatment strategy can reduce the need for therapy escalation when patients are being managed toward LDL-C goals. Together, these studies address an important issue in cardiovascular prevention: achieving and maintaining appropriate cholesterol levels in patients who remain at elevated cardiovascular risk. For cGxP.wire, the significance lies in the generation of comparative and real-world-relevant clinical evidence around treatment strategies for lipid management, rather than simply expanding the established use of an individual therapy.
Abelacimab and Lp(a) Research Expand Cardiovascular Focus
Novartis will also present new analyses from AZALEA-TIMI 71, further characterizing the bleeding profile of abelacimab in patients with atrial fibrillation. The analysis will examine total bleeding events, including recurrent bleeding events, in comparison with rivaroxaban. The findings are expected to add detail to the clinical evidence surrounding anticoagulation approaches in atrial fibrillation, where balancing prevention of thromboembolic events against bleeding risk remains a central challenge. Another component of the ESC program is Lp(a)CCELERATE, developed in partnership with the European Atherosclerosis Society, which is examining implementation strategies designed to accelerate Lp(a) testing across Europe. Rather than focusing solely on drug development, the initiative addresses the clinical implementation of cardiovascular risk assessment and strategies for incorporating guideline-recommended Lp(a) testing into routine practice. This broadens Novartis’ ESC presence from therapeutic development toward risk identification, clinical implementation and cardiovascular disease prevention.
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Entresto and Pacibekitug Highlight Broader Pipeline
Additional Novartis presentations will provide evidence across heart failure and cardiovascular inflammation, reinforcing the breadth of the company’s cardiovascular development portfolio. Data from the PARACHUTE-HF trial will examine the effects of Entresto® (sacubitril/valsartan) versus enalapril on NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity troponin T in patients with heart failure associated with Chagas disease. Meanwhile, the TRANQUILITY study will evaluate monthly and quarterly dosing of pacibekitug, an investigational IL-6 ligand monoclonal antibody, in patients with chronic kidney disease and high cardiovascular risk. The program reflects Novartis’ strategy of addressing cardiovascular disease through multiple biological and therapeutic pathways, including lipid lowering, anticoagulation, heart failure treatment and inflammation. Collectively, the ESC Congress 2026 data presentations are intended to strengthen the evidence base surrounding existing therapies while advancing understanding of emerging cardiovascular approaches. Importantly, individual investigational findings will require continued clinical and regulatory evaluation before any conclusions about future approvals or changes in clinical practice can be made.
Source: Novartis press relese
