A much-hyped CV drug failed, repeatedly. Now, investors are betting nearly $200M on one last PhIII bid

Just under a decade ago, Eli Lilly announced early results for a new drug that lowered bad cholesterol and raised good cholesterol. It was a “holy grail” result, as JAMA put it in a press release, offering a path for a pill that could curb cardiovascular disease, still the leading cause of death in the US. Merck, Amgen, Roche, and Pfizer all jumped in with similar molecules.