Cytokinetics Initiates Clinical Trial Of CK-2017357

Cytokinetics has initiated first-time-in-humans, phase-I clinical trial of CK-2017357 in healthy male volunteers. CK-2017357 is a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator, and is the lead drug candidate of company’s skeletal sarcomere activator program.

CK-2017357 selectively activates the troponin complex and increases sensitivity to calcium, subsequently leading to an increase in skeletal muscle force, said the company.

The phase-I clinical trial is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose study, designed to evaluate CK-2017357 in healthy male volunteers. Each volunteer will participate in two dosing sessions separated by an adequate washout period. Subjects will be randomized (3:1) at the start of each dosing period to receive active study drug or placebo.

Robert Blum, President and CEO, Cytokinetics, said: “The initiation of this Phase I clinical trial is further demonstration of Cytokinetics’ expertise in building a portfolio of novel drug candidates that leverage our expertise in the cytoskeletal pharmacology and biology of muscle contractility.”