Conference Preview: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2025, With Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C

The American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2025 kicks off in New Orleans, Louisiana, on November 7, 2025, and will spotlight some of the most impactful developments in cardiology this year. With hundreds of presentations slated over the 4-day meeting, keeping up with all the trial results and treatment advancements can be challenging.

The editorial team at HCPLive spoke with Viet Le, DMSc, PA-C, to discuss his top 5 trials to watch during the conference. From gene editing with CRISPR to caffeine’s effects on atrial fibrillation, Le highlights key data and upcoming therapies he believes may redefine cardiovascular care.

1. DR10624 Rapidly and Significantly Reduced Triglycerides, Atherogenic Lipids, and Liver Fat in Patients with Severe Hypertriglyceridemia: Primary Results from a Randomized Phase 2 Trial

Presentation Time: Saturday, November 8, 8:30 - 8:40 am CST
Presenter: Jianping Li, MD
Background Info: DR10624 is a combination GLP-1 receptor/glucagon receptor/fibroblast growth factor 21 receptor (FGF21R) agonist under investigation for severe hypertriglyceridemia. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 clinical study saw patients randomly assigned into 3 experimental cohorts, each of which was then assigned to either a DR10624 injection or placebo. The primary outcome was a change in fasting triglyceride (TG), and secondary outcomes included changes in lipid and lipoprotein profiles, change of glycosylated hemoglobin, and change of liver fat content, among others.1

2. First-in-Human Phase 1 Clinical Trial of a CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing Therapy Targeting ANGPTL3 & In Vivo Gene Editing of Angiotensin in Hepatocytes Safely and Potently Reduces Blood Pressure in Preclinical Models

Presentation Time: Saturday, November 8, 8:56 – 9:06 am CST | Saturday, November 8, 2:30 – 3:30 pm CST
Presenter: Stephen Nicholls, MBBS, PhD | Kenny Drombosky, PhD
Background Info: CTX310 targets ANGPTL3, a gene encoding for proteins involved in regulating LDL and TG levels. CRISPR Therapeutics is actively testing it in combatting loss-of-function mutations in ANGPTL3, which are a recognized risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) due to their significant reduction of LDL and TG. The gene therapy is in an ongoing phase 1 first-in-human trial across 4 patient groups: homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, severe hypertriglyceridemia, and mixed dyslipidemias. This presentation will collect the complete phase 1 data, building on a previous release of data on the first 10 participants.2

CRISPR will also be presenting preclinical data on CTX340, another experimental program targeting angiotensin for the treatment of refractory hypertension. This treatment makes use of the company’s proprietary lipid nanoparticle, the in vivo editing platform.3

3. The VESALIUS-CV Trial

Presentation Time: Saturday, November 8, 1:30 – 1:45 pm CST
Presenter: Erin A. Bohula, MD
Background Info: This landmark phase 3 trial met its dual primary endpoints of time to first occurrence of a composite of coronary heart disease death, heart attack, or ischemic stroke, and time to first occurrence of a composite of coronary heart disease death, heart attack, ischemic stroke, or any ischemia-driven arterial revascularization on October 2, 2025. Evolocumab substantially reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients without a prior history of heart attack or stroke.4

As announced by parent company Amgen, this presentation will provide the complete results from the trial.4

4. Dapagliflozin to Reduce Atrial Fibrillation Burden After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients Without Diabetes or Heart Failure: The DARE-AF Randomized Clinical Trial

Presentation Time: Sunday, November 9, 8:15 – 8:25 am PST
Presenter: Zixu Zhao
Background Info: DARE-AF was a single-center, parallel-group, randomized, open-label trial evaluating the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin 10 mg once daily over 3 months on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation for patients without diabetes, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease. Patients were randomly assigned to either dapagliflozin or no intervention, with a primary outcome of atrial fibrillation burden at 3 months. With the trial completed, the data to be presented at AHA 2025 may indicate another potential treatment pathway for dapagliflozin, and potentially SGLT2 inhibitors in general, in cardiology.5

5. The Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation (DECAF) Trial

Presentation Time: Sunday, November 9, 8:45 – 8:55 am PST
Presenter: Christopher X. Wong, MBBS
Background Info: The effects of caffeine on atrial fibrillation have been debated in cardiology for some time; given the widespread consumption of coffee and the increasing population impact of atrial fibrillation, determining an associated benefit or risk is becoming more clinically relevant. The DECAF study was a randomized evaluation of coffee on atrial fibrillation outcomes by following 2 patient groups, with 1 assigned to abstain from caffeinated beverages and 1 assigned to drink coffee regularly, with a recommended average of ≥1 shot of espresso or caffeinated coffee per day. These data will answer a longstanding and increasingly relevant question in the cardiovascular field, making it a presentation not to be missed.6

References

1. Zhejiang Doer Biologics Co., Ltd. A Phase II Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of DR10624 in Subjects With Severe Hypertriglyceridemia. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06555640. Updated August 19, 2024. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06555640

2. CRISPR Therapeutics. CRISPR Therapeutics Provides First Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Announces Positive Top-Line Data from Phase 1 Clinical Trial of CTX310 Targeting ANGPTL3. May 6, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://crisprtx.gcs-web.com/news-releases/news-release-details/crispr-therapeutics-provides-first-quarter-2025-financial

3. CRISPR Therapeutics. CRISPR Therapeutics to Present Late-Breaking Data at the American Heart Association (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2025. September 9, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://ir.crisprtx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/crispr-therapeutics-present-late-breaking-data-american-heart

4. Amgen. Landmark Phase 3 Trial (VESALIUS-CV) Meets Primary Endpoints in a Cardiovascular Primary Prevention Study of 12,000 Patients. October 2, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://www.amgen.com/newsroom/press-releases/2025/10/landmark-phase-3-trial-vesaliuscv-meets-primary-endpoints-in-a-cardiovascular-primary-prevention-study-of-12000-patients

5. Beijing Anzhen Hospital. Efficacy of Dapagliflozin on Recurrence After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation (DARE-AF). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06433479. Updated July 15, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06433479

6. University of California, San Francisco. Does Eliminating Coffee Avoid Fibrillation? (DECAF). ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05121519. Updated October 24, 2025. Accessed October 30, 2025. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05121519