New data revealing the reduction in cardiovascular (CV) deaths with Novartis' LCZ696 in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF) will be presented at the world's largest cardiology congress, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2014, on Sunday August 31st at 08.30 CET. The data will also be highlighted in the official ESC press conference on Saturday August 30th at 13.00 CET. The study met the primary endpoint showing LCZ696 reduced heart failure hospitalizations along with CV deaths.

The 8,442 patient study, PARADIGM-HF, was specifically designed to see if LCZ696 could increase survival over and above what can be achieved with ACE-inhibitor enalapril in addition to current best treatment in HF-REF patients. In March 2014 the Data Monitoring Committee overseeing the study confirmed those given LCZ696 were significantly less likely to die from CV causes, leading to the trial being closed early.

Over 26 million people worldwide live with heart failure, facing a high risk of death and poor quality of life, despite currently available medicines. As a serious condition with an urgent need for new treatments, the FDA has granted LCZ696 Fast Track designation, which can expedite the review of new medicines intended to treat serious or life-threatening conditions. Fast Track designation also allows for rolling submission in the US, which Novartis expects to complete by the end of 2014.

The scientific presentation at the ESC Congress 2014 will include safety data from the study showing LCZ696 was well-tolerated and side effects manageable. 10 further presentations throughout ESC Congress 2014 will provide a wider overview of Novartis's ongoing research in heart failure and other areas of cardiology.

Novartis presentations on LCZ696 at ESC include,  7 abstracts (2 oral presentations and 5 posters):Results of the Prospective comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and morbidity in Heart Failure trial (PARADIGM-HF) (#881), M Packer - Hot Line: Cardiovascular disease: novel therapies - Sunday August 31st, 08:30 - 10:20 (08:30-08:45), Results of the Prospective comparison of ARNI with ACEI to Determine Impact on Global Mortality and morbidity in Heart Failure trial (PARADIGM-HF) (#1115), J McMurray, M Packer - Meet the Trialist I: PARADIGM-HF  Sunday August 31st, 10:10 - 10:50 (10:10),  High prevalence of elevated high sensitivity troponin-T and reduction in levels by LCZ696 in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in the PARAMOUNT trial (#P5847), P S Jhund - Moderated Posters: Defining prognosis in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction - Tuesday September 2nd.

LCZ696, an investigational twice a day tablet for heart failure, acts in a unique multimodal way to enhance the protective neurohormonal system of the heart (NP system) while simultaneously suppressing the harmful system (the RAAS). Known as an ARNI (Angiotensin Receptor Neprilysin Inhibitor) LCZ696 is thought to reduce the strain on the failing heart, promoting the ability of the heart muscle to recover.

PARADIGM-HF is a randomized, double-blind, phase III outcome study evaluating the efficacy and safety profile of LCZ696 versus enalapril (a widely used ACE inhibitor) in 8,442 patients with HF It was specifically designed to see if LCZ696 could increase survival by at least 15 per cent over and above what can be achieved with enalapril in addition to current best treatment in HF-REF patients. The primary outcome is a composite of time to first occurrence of either cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization, and is the largest heart failure study ever done. It was initiated in December 2009 and in March 2014 the Data Monitoring Committee confirmed those given LCZ696 were significantly less likely to die from CV causes, leading to the trial being stopped early.