The selected compound is currently in preclinical studies and, based on the successful completion of the preclinical program, Cytokinetics intends to submit a regulatory filing for the initiation of the first human clinical studies in 2005.
This newly advanced compound replaces another cardiac myosin activator identified in 2004 as the lead drug candidate arising from this program. Cytokinetics had nominated that particular compound for development while continuing to further optimize other compounds in this series.
Through this process, the company identified this newer compound that additional research has demonstrated to be a more attractive drug candidate for pharmaceutical development due improved potency, tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmaceutics, amongst other things.
These properties increase the possibility of developing a novel, next-generation pharmaceutical for the treatment of acute heart failure, while still providing opportunity for exploration of this class of compounds in the treatment of chronic heart failure.
“The selection of this compound represents an important step forward for the development of activators of cardiac myosin as novel therapeutics in the treatment of heart failure,” said Dr David Morgans, Cytokinetics’ senior vice president of drug discovery and development.