Novo Nordisk shares dropped 9% on Friday after the company said its experimental medicine ziltivekimab failed to show a statistically meaningful reduction in major cardiovascular adverse events in a clinical trial. The drug, designed to target inflammation, missed the mark in a heart disease study, raising questions about whether lowering inflammation can prevent cardiovascular complications. Novo Nordisk announced the results on Friday, sending investors fleeing. The failure is a setback for the Danish pharmaceutical company, which had been testing the drug as a potential treatment for patients with heart disease. Analysts say the outcome casts doubt on the broader approach of using inflammation-targeting therapies to reduce cardiovascular risk. The company did not disclose further details about the trial results. The stock decline wiped billions off Novo Nordisk's market value, reflecting investor disappointment over the failed study. The news also raised concerns about the company's pipeline beyond its well-known diabetes and obesity treatments. Novo Nordisk had positioned ziltivekimab as a promising candidate in cardiovascular care, but the trial results suggest the drug may not offer the hoped-for benefit. The company said it would analyze the data further to determine next steps. The failed trial adds to challenges for the pharma giant, which has faced increasing competition in its core markets.