What the trial was testing
The VESALIUS-CV enrolled 12,301 patients with stroke. The study was sponsored by Amgen and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
Patients taking the cholesterol-lowering injection were 25% less likely to have a first heart attack or stroke.
The New England journal of medicine · 2026 · NCT03872401
These findings — that lower risk of first heart attack or stroke over five years — were published in the The New England journal of medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 12,301 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with stroke, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
If you have heart disease or diabetes but haven't had a heart attack or stroke yet, this treatment might help prevent one. The injection is FDA-approved and already used for people who've had cardiovascular events. Talk to your doctor about whether it makes sense for you, especially if your cholesterol remains high despite other medications.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open stroke trials
Establishing Mechanical Thrombectomy at a Limited-volume Stroke Center - Effects on Patient Morbidity and Mortality
The regional health authorities of South-East Norway has commissioned Sørlandet Hospital (SSHF), Norway to establish mechanical thrombectomy in large-vessel occlusion stroke. SSHF is a limited volume stroke center, and introduction of thrombectomy may impose quality challenges. Therefore the implementation will be guided by a simulation based quality assurance program. In this study, we will monitor timelines, technical and clinical outcomes, including adverse events.
Digital Technology-Informed Stroke Rehabilitation
The goal of this study is to determine the effects of lab and home-based technology guidance during movement training post-stroke. The study will compare movement training informed by lab-based technology to training delivered with technology at home. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How well do lab and home-based technologies help individuals post-stroke improve their movement patterns? * Is there a difference in improvement between the in-lab and at-home training groups? * Which technologies lead to the most improvement?