Cytokinetics Incorporated (NASDAQ:CYTK) has announced the dosing of the first subjects in Phase 1 single-ascending doses, placebo-controlled CK-3772271 (CK-271) clinical study. CK-271 is the company’s second cardiac myosin inhibitor currently under development for potential hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) treatment.
Cytokinetics to evaluate CK-271 in a single ascending dose Phase 1 study
Fady I. Malik, Cytokinetics’ executive VP Research and Development, stated that the phase 1 study of CK-271 is building on the company’s long-standing approach of advancing back-up and follow-on compounds that are consistent with Cytokinetic’s portfolio management strategy. Malik said that as the company expands the CK-274 development program in Phase 2 currently plan to characterize CK-271 to determine how it will align with the company’s objective of developing new therapies for the treatment of various diseases related to excessive cardiac contractility.
The main objective of the single-ascending dose, placebo-controlled Phase 1 clinical study is evaluation of tolerability and safety of CK-271 in healthy adults. On the other hand, the study’s secondary objective will be evaluated if the pharmacokinetic profile of the cardiac myosin inhibitor after single oral ascending doses. The study’s design includes three cohorts where 8 adults in a cohort will be randomized 6:2 in a blinded design to CK-271 or control. Most importantly, the dose-escalation decisions will be after reviewing the available pharmacokinetics, safety, and echocardiography data.
CK-271 has the potential of rapidly reducing cardiac contractility
The mechanism of action of CK-271, an allosteric cardiac myosin inhibitor, involves the production of reversible plasma and dose concentration-dependent reduction in cardiac contractility without affecting heart rate in preclinical trials. It has been shown to reduce compensatory cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac fibrosis in preclinical trials of heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. This is the second cardiac myosin inhibitor that the company has developed from is chemical optimization program focused on pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic index.CK-271 may be effective as a therapeutic that offers quick relief of hypercontractility in HCM.
