Argo Biopharma Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2b Trial of siRNA Therapeutic BW-20829 for Elevated Lp(a)
Argo Biopharma announced on January 25, 2026, that the first patient was dosed in a global Phase 2b clinical trial of BW-20829 (also known as DII235), sponsored by Novartis, for adults with elevated Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD).
BW-20829, developed using Argo's proprietary RADS™ platform, targets potent, durable gene silencing via hepatic delivery and is the sixth asset in Argo's pipeline to enter mid-stage global clinical development.
The trial (NCT07235046) involves dose escalation across five primary cohorts (potentially up to eight), with primary endpoints of safety, tolerability, and Lp(a) reduction.
Argo will receive milestone payments from Novartis under their exclusive license and collaboration agreement to support R&D.
Elevated Lp(a) affects an estimated 1.5 billion people worldwide and is a causal risk factor for ASCVD.
Argo Biopharma has six RNAi candidates in clinical development targeting cardiovascular diseases and other areas.