ACC: New analyses of Anthos AZALEA-TIMI 71 study

Cambridge, USA-based Anthos Therapeutics presented two new analyses from its landmark AZALEA-TIMI 71 study at the American College of Cardiology Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25) demonstrating the novel Factor XI inhibitor abelacimab significantly reduced bleeding in patients regardless of age or bleeding risk.

Anthos is currently the subject of an acquisition by Swiss pharma giant Novartis (NOVN: VX) that was announced last month, which comprises an upfront payment of $925 million on closing of the transaction, and potential additional payments of up to $2.15 billion based on specified regulatory and sales milestones.

Anthos noted that, in the first analysis, the safety of abelacimab, a novel Factor XI inhibitor, was compared to rivaroxaban, a direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC), by patient age. Inhibition of Factor XI with abelacimab significantly reduced the relative risk of major or clinically relevant non-major (CRNM) bleeding compared with rivaroxaban regardless of age, with potential for greater absolute risk reduction (ARR) with older patients. The ARR in patients 75 years of age and older was 6.2% compared to 4.2% in patients less than 75 years. In addition, abelacimab consistently reduced bleeding risk in patients 75 years of age and older regardless of renal function, body mass index (BMI), and the use of concomitant antiplatelet therapy.