Last Update: Mar 12, 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
Feb 29, 2028
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

Xian,Shanxi,710061,China

Novartis Investigative Site

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Beijing,100730,China

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Jining,Shandong,272000,China

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Shanghai,200025,China

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Yinchuan,Ningxia,750004,China

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Pessac,33604,France

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Poitiers,86021,France

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Stuttgart,Baden-Wurttemberg,70376,Germany

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Potsdam,Brandenburg,14473,Germany

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Berlin,10789,Germany

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Bielefeld,33604,Germany

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Gelnhausen,63571,Germany

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Mannheim,68165,Germany

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Münster,48145,Germany

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Singen,78224,Germany

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Hong Kong,Hong Kong,999077,Hong Kong

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Ancona,AN,60126,Italy

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Caserta,CE,81100,Italy

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Grosseto,GR,58100,Italy

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Milan,MI,20138,Italy

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Rozzano,MI,20089,Italy

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The Hague,South Holland,2545 aa,Netherlands

Novartis Investigative Site

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Enschede,7512kz,Netherlands

Latin Clinical Trial Center Inc

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San Juan,00909,Puerto Rico

Alex Gonzalez Bossolo
Gina Velez

Novartis Investigative Site

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Santiago Compostela,A Coruna,15706,Spain

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Pamplona,Navarre,31008,Spain

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Castilleja de la Cuesta,Sevilla,41950,Spain

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A Coruña,15006,Spain

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Barcelona,08023,Spain

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Córdoba,14004,Spain

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Huelva,21080,Spain

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Las Palmas GC,35010,Spain

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Salamanca,37007,Spain

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Valencia,46014,Spain

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Taipei,11217,Taiwan

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Changhua,50006,Taiwan

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Kaohsiung City,80756,Taiwan

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Tainan,704,Taiwan

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Taipei,10002,Taiwan

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Chichester,West Sussex,Po19 6se,United Kingdom

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London,Ec1m 6bq,United Kingdom

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Tyne and Wear,Ne29 8nh,United Kingdom

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London,W12 0hs,United Kingdom

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Manchester,M13 9wl,United Kingdom

Excel Medical Clinical Trials LLC

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Boca Raton,Florida,33434,United States

Joseph Ramsey
Rimsky Denis

Inpatient Research Clinical LLC

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Miami Lakes,Florida,33014,United States

Alexis Gutierrez
Jose Casola
Jose Contreras
Sergio Ramirez

Omega Clinical Research

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Metairie,Louisiana,70006,United States

Tina Messina
Tuan-Huy Tran

Henry Ford Hospital

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Detroit,Michigan,48202,United States

Jodi Carter
Khaled Abdul-Nour

Northwest Houston Clinical Research PLLC

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Tomball,Texas,77375,United States

Dawn Burns
Shamaila Aslam

FC Site Partners Miami

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Winter Park,Florida,32789,United States

Claisha Pruitt
Monica Aggarwal

Virginia Heart

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Falls Church,Virginia,22042,United States

Deanna Overbeck
Tariq Haddad

National Heart Institute

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Beverly Hills,California,90211,United States

Nayeli Aguillon
Norman Lepor

Cardiovascular Associates Research

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Covington,Louisiana,70433,United States

Dale Presser
Melinda Accardo

Overlook Medical Center

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Summit,New Jersey,07901,United States

Betty Merveil-Ceneus
Robert Fishberg

Anderson Medical Research

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Ft. Washington,Maryland,20744,United States

Ann-Marie Cobb
Felton Anderson

Clinical Research Inst of Arizona

Recruiting

Sun City West,Arizona,85375,United States

Georgina Lopez-Wood
Jalal Abbas

Jacksonville Center for Clinical

Recruiting

Jacksonville,Florida,32216,United States

Michael J Koren
Theresa Hanburry

University of Miami Hospital

Recruiting

Miami,Florida,33136,United States

Andrew Bromley
Maria Alamanzar

Aa Mrc Llc

Recruiting

Flint,Michigan,48504,United States

Ahmed A Arif
Fayyaz Shah

AB Clinical Trials

Recruiting

Las Vegas,Nevada,89119,United States

Atoya Adams
Fungai Siziba-Dubose

MyMichigan Medical Center Midland

Recruiting

Midland,Michigan,48670,United States

Katie Kamyszek
William Roy Felten

Novartis Investigative Site

Recruiting

Tullahoma,Tennessee,37388,United States

Dinesh Gupta
Kayla Nee

Ocala Cardiovascular Research

Recruiting

Ocala,Florida,34471,United States

Arleana Brown
Lan Luo

SEC Clinical Research

Recruiting

Pensacola,Florida,32503,United States

Robert I Garver
Tatum Ramsey

Peace River Cardiovascular Center

Recruiting

Port Charlotte,Florida,33952,United States

David Allan Hotchkiss
Karen Mullinax

American Health Network Research Dept

Recruiting

Muncie,Indiana,47304,United States

Andrew Daluga
Gorgi Leigh Avery
Jonathan Condit
Stephanie Stewart

PharmaTex Research LLC

Recruiting

Amarillo,Texas,79106,United States

David Brabham
Salma Villarreal

Kelsey Seybold Research Foundation

Recruiting

Houston,Texas,77030,United States

Fisayomi Shobayo
Julian Edmonson

Parkway Medical Center

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Birmingham,Alabama,35215,United States

James Sullivan
Trina Gray

Interv Cardiology Med Grp

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West Hills,California,91307,United States

Farhad Rafii
Michael Fam

Miami Cancer Institute at Bapt

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Miami,Florida,33173,United States

Adedapo Iluyomade
Ruben Dominguez

FXM Clin Res Miramar LLC

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Miramar,Florida,33027,United States

Raul Hernandez
Yaneth Trujillo

Advocate Lutheran General Childrens Hospital

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Park Ridge,Illinois,60068,United States

Adib Chaus
Marina Kelly

Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center

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Winston-Salem,North Carolina,27157,United States

Keishia Rodriguez
Michael Shapiro

The Corvallis Clinic P C

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Corvallis,Oregon,97330,United States

Daniel P. Barrett
Erin Thompson

Intermountain Medical Center

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Murray,Utah,84107,United States

Jeffrey Anderson
Tyler Winslow

K2 Medical Research LLC

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Maitland,Florida,32751,United States

Evette Trahan
Neel Patel

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