This Phase 2a clinical trial evaluated the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of increasing dose strengths of an oral daily medication, DFV890, administered for 12 weeks, or a single s.c. dose of MAS825, to reduce key markers of inflammation related to CVD risk, such as IL-6 and IL-18, in approximately 28 people with known coronary heart disease and TET2 or DNMT3A CHIP (variant allele frequency [VAF] ≥2%).

This was a multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, participant- and investigator-blinded study.

The study consisted of a screening period up to 30 days; a treatment period of approximately 12 weeks with an end of treatment (EOT) visit on Day 85, which is one day after the last dose of DFV890 or placebo; a follow-up period of approximately 1 week; and a standard safety follow-up call approximately 30 days following the last dose. The overall study duration is approximately 21 weeks.

Participants were randomized to one of five treatment sequences. Based on the treatment sequence assignments, participants started on either a combination of MAS825 and placebo, DFV890 and placebo, or placebo and placebo on Day 1, and then, within each DFV890 treatment sequence, participants received up-titrating doses of DFV890 or placebo at the corresponding study visits. None of the treatment sequences included a combination of both active DFV890 and active MAS825.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male and female participants aged between 18 - 80 years (inclusive) at the start of screening will be included.
• Participants must have a body mass index (BMI) within the range of 18 - 40 kg/m2 at screening. BMI = Body weight (kg) / [Height (m)]2.
• Documented spontaneous myocardial infarction (MI) (diagnosed according to the universal MI criteria with or without evidence of ST segment elevation) at least 30 days before the start of screening (Thygesen et al 2007).
• Known presence of CHIP, restricted to driver mutations in TET2 or DNMT3A with a VAF ≥2%, as documented in the participant's medical history.
• For participants on statin therapy (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor) as clinically indicated, participants must be on a stable regimen (at least 4 weeks before randomization), with no planned statin dose changes over the course of the trial treatment period. Unplanned statin dose changes during the trial treatment period may occur.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients receiving concomitant medications that are known to be strong or moderate inducers of cytochrome CYP2C9 enzyme and/or strong inducers of CYP3A, strong inhibitors of CYP2C9 and/or strong or moderate inhibitors of CYP3A and the treatment cannot be discontinued or switched to a different medication within 5 half-lives or 1 week (whichever is longer) prior to Day 1 and for the duration of the study.
• At screening, pre-malignant clonal cytopenias or clonal cytopenia of unknown significance (CCUS).
• History of ongoing, chronic, or major recurrent infectious disease, at the discretion of the Investigator, at the start of screening.
• Patients with suspected or proven immunocompromised state at screening.
• Use of any biologic drugs targeting the immune system within 26 weeks of Day 1.
• Multi-vessel coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery within the past 3 years prior to the start of screening.
• Planned coronary revascularization (percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or CABG) or any other major surgical procedure during the study (until End of Study (EOS)).
• Symptomatic Class IV heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA]) at the start of screening.

Novartis is committed to sharing with qualified external researchers, access to patient-level data and supporting clinical documents from eligible studies. These requests are reviewed and approved by an independent review panel on the basis of scientific merit. All data provided is anonymized to respect the privacy of patients who have participated in the trial in line with applicable laws and regulations.

This trial data availability is according to the criteria and process described on www.clinicalstudydatarequest.com