Reuters Health News Summary

Following is a summary of current health news ​briefs.

Swiss dental startup vVardis eyes $4.4 ​billion valuation in US IPO

Dental health ‌company ​vVardis said on Friday it was targeting a valuation of up to $4.37 billion in its US initial public offering, ‌seeking to capitalize on demand for treatments that can repair early-stage tooth decay without drilling. The Zug, Switzerland-based firm is looking to raise up to $228.6 million by offering 9.5 ‌million shares priced between $21 and $24 each.

J&J's once-daily pill eases psoriatic arthritis symptoms ‌in late-stage trial

Johnson & Johnson said on Saturday its once-daily pill eased symptoms in more patients with psoriatic arthritis than a placebo in a late-stage trial, potentially supporting expanded use of the drug. The company said ⁠58% ​of patients who ⁠took icotrokinra, branded as Icotyde, saw a 20% improvement in tender and swollen joint counts, as well ⁠as improvements in other measures of disease activity after 16 weeks. That compared with 41% who ​received a placebo in the 552-patient trial.

Trial failures of Novartis, Novo Nordisk ⁠heart drugs leave experts guessing

An experimental Novartis drug designed to treat a genetic cause of heart disease ⁠failed ​to reduce deaths and non-fatal heart attacks, dashing hopes for the first of several such drugs in clinical trials. Despite a 78% reduction of the blood particle ⁠commonly known as Lp(a), a monthly dose of the Novartis drug, pelacarsen, over nearly five ⁠years had ⁠no effect in preventing a second heart attack, or reducing the risk of stroke or need for emergency procedures to unblock ‌clogged arteries ‌in the trial of more than 8,300 patients, ​according to detailed results.