Three major drugmakers disclosed missed primary endpoints within days of each other in September 2026 — here’s what went wrong, who it affects, and what it signals about pharma R&D.
AstraZeneca’s Phase III SERENA-4 trial of Etcamah (camizestrant) plus palbociclib missed statistical significance for progression-free survival in first-line advanced ER-positive breast cancer, though a numerical benefit was observed. The company says the miss sharpens its focus on ESR1-mutation-driven use of Etcamah under its existing SERENA-6 approval, with safety unchanged from each medicine’s known profile.
Kyowa Kirin KHK4951 eye drops missed their Phase 2 primary endpoint in neovascular age-related macular degeneration, though most patients maintained vision through Week 52 with no new safety signals in Study 4951-002.
Novartis announced pelacarsen Lp(a)HORIZON trial results on September 4, 2026, revealing that the Phase III cardiovascular outcomes study did not meet its primary endpoint, even though the investigational therapy lowered Lp(a) levels in more than 8,300 patients with established cardiovascular disease.
The Phase III VOLGA trial has reached its primary endpoints, proving that the Imfinzi EV bladder cancer combination delivers historic survival gains in the perioperative setting.
Novo Nordisk announced today that its blockbuster drug semaglutide failed to slow the progression of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease in two large-scale Phase 3 clinical trials, [Read More…]
