Novartis has a long way to go to make its twice-yearly cholesterol-lowering drug Leqvio the multi-billion-dollar blockbuster it is predicting – but took another step along that road today.

AstraZeneca has taken the decision not to move a PCSK9-targeting antisense drug licensed from Ionis into a phase 3 programme, removing a competitor to Novartis' rival therapy Leqvio.