Trial results that will be presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress 2017 in Barcelona, Spain, will open up a new window into treatment for patients at risk of major cardiovascular events, explained Steven E. Nissen, MD, of Cleveland Clinic, at the start of the conference.

Transcript

What do you believe will be the next breakthroughs in cardiovascular medicine?

Well there will be a trial presented at this meeting; the topline results have been announced in a press release. It's the use of a pure anti-inflammatory drug, known as canakinumab, and the trial is CANTOS. It's going to be presented by Paul Ridker, MD. Since the data are still embargoed, what I can say here is that the topline results are that the trial met its pre-specificed endpoints.

But watch this space. Because here is a drug that doesn't lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, doesn't raise high-density lipoprotein, doesn't loewr triglycerides, but based upon the press release, it reduces major cardiovascular events. A pure anti-inflammatory strategy. It's fascinating. It's a new window opening on another approach to treatment. And we're very excited about the results.