Last Update: Feb 06, 2026
A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Pelacarsen (TQJ230) With Background Inclisiran in Participants With Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD), and Elevated LDL-C and Lp(a)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
Novartis Reference Number:CTQJ230A12304
All compounds are either investigational or being studied for (a) new use(s). Efficacy and safety have not been established. There is no guarantee that they will become commercially available for the use(s) under investigation.

Study Description

The purpose of the study CTQJ230A12304, is to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of pelacarsen (TQJ230) compared to placebo in participants with ASCVD who have elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and who are on background inclisiran treatment for elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter, parallel group study followed by an open-label treatment period.

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD)
Phase3
Recruiting
340
Apr 30, 2025
Dec 01, 2027
All
18 Years - 80 Years (Adult, Older Adult)

Interventions

Drug

Inclisiran

All participants will be administered two loading doses of inclisiran as background treatment at Run-in 1 and Run-in 2, separated by 3 months, according to the approved label. After that inclisiran will be administered every 6 months, i.e., Month 5 and Month 11.
Drug

Pelacarsen

Pelacarsen will be provided as solution for injection in prefilled syringe 80 mg for subcutaneous injection.
Drug

Placebo

Placebo will be provided as solution for injection in prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection.

Eligibility Criteria

Key Inclusion criteria:

* Male and female participants 18 to ≤80 years of age at Screening visit
* Established ASCVD, defined as documented coronary heart disease (CHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), or peripheral arterial disease (PAD) at Screening visit
* On stable dose of local guideline recommended lipid lowering therapy for at least 30 days prior to Screening visit
* Participants must successfully complete the run-in period of background inclisiran treatment in order to be randomized
* On standard of care (SoC) treatment for other CVD risk factors including hypertension and diabetes for at least 30 days prior to Randomization/Baseline visit
* Central laboratory reported Lp(a) ≥175 nmol/L at Screening visit
* Central laboratory reported LDL-C \>70 mg/dL (or \>1.8 mmol/L) at Screening visit

Key Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior treatment with inclisiran
* Any other PCSK9 inhibitor (e.g., evolocumab, alirocumab) use within 4 months prior to Screening visit
* Uncontrolled hypertension at Randomization/Baseline visit
* Heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV at Screening visit or at Randomization/Baseline visit (Day 1)
* Triglycerides ≥400 mg/dL at Screening visit
* History of malignancy of any organ system within the past 5 years
* Myocardial infarction, stroke or other major bleeding, coronary or lower limb re vascularization, major cardiac or non-cardiac surgery between Screening visit and Randomization/Baseline visit (Day 1)
* Central laboratory reported platelet count \<140,000 per mm3
* Active liver disease or hepatic dysfunction at Screening visit
* Significant kidney disease at Screening visit
* Pregnant or nursing women at Screening visit
* Any uncontrolled chronic or serious medical condition which may pose an immediate risk to clinical stability of the study participant at Screening visit

* Other protocol-defined inclusion/exclusion criteria may apply.

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Beijing,100730,China

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Xian,Shanxi,710061,China

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Jining,Shandong,272000,China

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Shanghai,200025,China

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Yinchuan,Ningxia,750004,China

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Hong Kong,999077,Hong Kong

Latin Clinical Trial Center Inc

Recruiting

San Juan,00909,Puerto Rico

Alex Gonzalez Bossolo
Gina Velez

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Changhua,50006,Taiwan

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Taipei,11217,Taiwan

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Kaohsiung City,80756,Taiwan

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Tainan,704,Taiwan

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Taipei,10002,Taiwan

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Manchester,M13 9wl,United Kingdom

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Chichester,West Sussex,Po19 6se,United Kingdom

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

London,Ec1m 6bq,United Kingdom

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Tyne and Wear,Ne29 8nh,United Kingdom

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

London,W12 0hs,United Kingdom

Henry Ford Hospital

Recruiting

Detroit,Michigan,48202,United States

Khaled Abdul-Nour
Jodi Carter

Interv Cardiology Med Grp

Recruiting

West Hills,California,91307,United States

Farhad Rafii
Michael Fam

Parkway Medical Center

Recruiting

Birmingham,Alabama,35215,United States

Trina Gray
James Sullivan

Inpatient Research Clinical LLC

Recruiting

Miami Lakes,Florida,33014,United States

Jose Contreras
Sergio Ramirez
Alexis Gutierrez
Jose Casola

Omega Clinical Research

Recruiting

Metairie,Louisiana,70006,United States

Tina Messina
Tuan-Huy Tran

Northwest Houston Clinical Research PLLC

Recruiting

Tomball,Texas,77375,United States

Dawn Burns
Shamaila Aslam

Kelsey Seybold Research Foundation

Recruiting

Houston,Texas,77030,United States

Julian Edmonson
Fisayomi Shobayo

PharmaTex Research LLC

Recruiting

Amarillo,Texas,79106,United States

Salma Villarreal
David Brabham

American Health Network Research Dept

Recruiting

Muncie,Indiana,47304,United States

Stephanie Stewart
Jonathan Condit
Gorgi Leigh Avery
Andrew Daluga

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

Recruiting

Winston-Salem,North Carolina,27157,United States

Michael Shapiro
Keishia Rodriguez

Excel Medical Clinical Trials LLC

Recruiting

Boca Raton,Florida,33434,United States

Joseph Ramsey
Rimsky Denis

Intermountain Medical Center

Recruiting

Murray,Utah,84107,United States

Tyler Winslow
Jeffrey Anderson

The Corvallis Clinic P C

Recruiting

Corvallis,Oregon,97330,United States

Erin Thompson
Daniel P. Barrett

Advocate Lutheran General Childrens Hospital

Recruiting

Park Ridge,Illinois,60068,United States

Marina Kelly
Adib Chaus

FXM Clin Res Miramar LLC

Recruiting

Miramar,Florida,33027,United States

Yaneth Trujillo
Raul Hernandez

Miami Cancer Institute at Bapt

Recruiting

Miami,Florida,33173,United States

Ruben Dominguez
Adedapo Iluyomade

Clinical Research Inst of Arizona

Recruiting

Sun City West,Arizona,85375,United States

Jalal Abbas
Georgina Lopez-Wood

AB Clinical Trials

Recruiting

Las Vegas,Nevada,89119,United States

Fungai Siziba-Dubose
Atoya Adams

Aa Mrc Llc

Recruiting

Flint,Michigan,48504,United States

Fayyaz Shah
Ahmed A Arif

University of Miami Hospital

Recruiting

Miami,Florida,33136,United States

Maria Alamanzar
Andrew Bromley

Jacksonville Center for Clinical

Recruiting

Jacksonville,Florida,32216,United States

Theresa Hanburry
Michael J Koren

National Heart Institute

Recruiting

Beverly Hills,California,90211,United States

Nayeli Aguillon
Norman Lepor

Anderson Medical Research

Recruiting

Ft. Washington,Maryland,20744,United States

Felton Anderson
Ann-Marie Cobb

Overlook Medical Center

Recruiting

Summit,New Jersey,07901,United States

Robert Fishberg
Betty Merveil-Ceneus

Cardiovascular Associates Research

Recruiting

Covington,Louisiana,70433,United States

Melinda Accardo
Dale Presser

FC Site Partners Miami

Recruiting

Winter Park,Florida,32789,United States

Dimary Rivera
Monica Aggarwal

Peace River Cardiovascular Center

Recruiting

Port Charlotte,Florida,33952,United States

Karen Mullinax
David Allan Hotchkiss

SEC Clinical Research

Recruiting

Pensacola,Florida,32503,United States

Tatum Ramsey
Robert I Garver

Ocala Cardiovascular Research

Recruiting

Ocala,Florida,34471,United States

Lan Luo
Arleana Brown

Virginia Heart

Recruiting

Falls Church,Virginia,22042,United States

Deanna Overbeck
Tariq Haddad

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Tullahoma,Tennessee,37388,United States

Kayla Nee
Dinesh Gupta

MyMichigan Medical Center Midland

Recruiting

Midland,Michigan,48670,United States

William Roy Felten
Katie Kamyszek

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