Cytokinetics Presents New Data Related to Aficamten at the HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting 2025
Additional Data from MAPLE-HCM Show Aficamten Significantly Improves Measures of Maximal
and Submaximal Exercise Capacity and Recovery Compared to Metoprolol
96-Week Analyses from FOREST-HCM Support
Long-Term Efficacy and Tolerability of Aficamten in Patients with Non-Obstructive HCM
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CYTK) today announced that additional data related to aficamten were presented in a Late Breaking Clinical Research session at the Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA) Annual Scientific Meeting 2025 in Minneapolis, MN. The first presentation was a pre-specified analysis of the effect of aficamten compared to metoprolol on exercise performance in obstructive HCM (oHCM) in MAPLE-HCM (Metoprolol vs Aficamten in Patients with LVOT Obstruction on Exercise Capacity in HCM), and the second was an analysis from FOREST-HCM (Follow-up, Open-Label, Research Evaluation of Sustained Treatment with Aficamten in HCM) on the efficacy and tolerability of long-term treatment of aficamten in patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (nHCM), simultaneously published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.1
"The additional data from MAPLE-HCM expands our understanding of aficamten across several measures of exercise performance, with effects observed not only in peak exercise capacity, but also in submaximal exercise and recovery from exercise," said Fady I. Malik, M.D., Ph.D., Cytokinetics' Executive Vice President of Research & Development. "Additionally, the long-term data from FOREST-HCM in patients with nHCM show sustained improvements in both patient symptom burden and cardiac biomarkers associated with aficamten. Most patients achieved the highest doses available without any early treatment discontinuations, giving us confidence in the dosing strategy and the potential of aficamten to benefit patients with nHCM, as is being assessed in the ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial, ACACIA-HCM."
Pre-Specified Analysis of Supplemental Endpoints from MAPLE-HCM Shows Aficamten Improves Measures of Submaximal and Maximal Exercise Performance and Post-Exercise Recovery Compared to Metoprolol
Gregory Lewis, M.D., Jeffrey and Mary Ellen Jay Chair and Section Head, Heart Failure Medical Director, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) Laboratory, Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School presented pre-specified supplemental analyses of the impact of treatment with aficamten relative to metoprolol on CPET measures of exercise performance from onset through post-exercise recovery in MAPLE-HCM. The primary result of MAPLE-HCM demonstrated the superiority of aficamten to metoprolol on peak oxygen uptake (pVO2) (change from baseline to Week 24, least squares mean (LSM) treatment difference (SE), +2.3 (0.39) mL/kg/min, p<0.001). In these new analyses, aficamten compared to metoprolol was also shown to nominally significantly improve measures of submaximal exercise performance, including anaerobic threshold, aerobic efficiency (VO2/work), ventilatory efficiency (pre-anaerobic threshold and VE/VCO2 slope), and other key measures of maximal exercise performance, including peak workload, peak heart rate, exercise duration and heart rate reserve (Table 1). Additionally, the speed of VO2 recovery, a sensitive measure of cardiometabolic resilience, increased with aficamten and slowed with metoprolol. A responder analysis showed that any improvement in pVO2 was observed more commonly with aficamten compared to metoprolol, while any worsening was more frequent in the metoprolol group.
| Table 1 | ||
| Submaximal Exercise Response Variables | ||
| CPET variable | LSM (95% CI)* | P-value** |
| Anaerobic threshold, mL | +76 (41, 111) | <0.001 |
| Aerobic efficiency (VO2/work), mL/min/watt | +0.8 (0.2, 1.3) | 0.004 |
| Ventilatory efficiency (pre-anaerobic threshold) | −1.3 (−2.3, −0.3) | 0.013 |
| Ventilatory efficiency (VE/VCO2 slope) | −2.8 (−4.0, −1.5) | <0.001 |
| Maximal Exercise Response Variables | ||
| Peak workload, watt | +8 (3, 13) | 0.003 |
| Peak heart rate, bpm | +28 (24, 32) | <0.001 |
| Exercise duration, min | +0.6 (0.2, 1.0) | 0.002 |
| Heart rate reserve, bpm | +12 (8, 16) | <0.001 |
| * LSM (95% CI) = change from baseline to Week 24 least squares mean treatment difference between aficamten and metoprolol, 95% confidence interval ** All p-values are nominal and not controlled for multiple comparisons | ||
New Data from FOREST-HCM Support the Efficacy and Tolerability of Long-Term Treatment with Aficamten in Patients with Non-Obstructive HCM
Ahmad Masri, M.D., MS, Director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at Oregon Health & Science University, presented new data related to the safety and long-term use of aficamten in patients with nHCM in FOREST-HCM.
These analyses included 34 patients with nHCM who enrolled in FOREST-HCM, the open-label extension study, after completion of Cohort 4 of the Phase 2 clinical trial REDWOOD-HCM. Patients were followed for at least 96 weeks of treatment. At the end of titration (Week 6), 82.4% of patients were on the highest available doses of 15 mg and 20 mg. Through 96 weeks of treatment, there were no early treatment discontinuations and aficamten demonstrated sustained reductions in symptom burden. At Week 96, 27 of the 34 patients (79%) improved by at least one NYHA Functional Class, including 20 (74%) who became asymptomatic (NYHA Functional Class 1). Patients also experienced a mean increase in the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire Clinical Summary Score (KCCQ-CSS) of 11.2 points (±14.3 points). Aficamten also improved cardiac biomarkers, with both NT-proBNP and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I rapidly declining by Week 12 and remaining low through Week 96. There was a modest reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from hyperdynamic at baseline to within normal range at Week 12 (-6.2%; p<0.0001). Over the treatment period, four patients had LVEF <50% (5.4 per 100 patient-years) which were reversible after down titration or a short treatment interruption. Only one instance of LVEF <50% was corroborated by the core lab.
The efficacy and safety of aficamten in non-obstructive HCM is being investigated in an ongoing Phase 3 clinical trial.
About Aficamten
Aficamten is an investigational selective, small molecule cardiac myosin inhibitor discovered following an extensive chemical optimization program that was conducted with careful attention to therapeutic index and pharmacokinetic properties.1 Aficamten was designed to reduce the number of active actin-myosin cross bridges during each cardiac cycle and consequently suppress the myocardial hypercontractility that is associated with HCM. In preclinical models, aficamten reduced myocardial contractility by binding directly to cardiac myosin at a distinct and selective allosteric binding site, thereby preventing myosin from entering a force producing state.
The development program for aficamten is assessing its potential as a treatment that improves exercise capacity as measured by peak oxygen uptake (pVO2) and relieves symptoms in patients with HCM. Aficamten was evaluated in SEQUOIA-HCM, a positive pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Aficamten received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for the treatment of symptomatic HCM from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and for the treatment of symptomatic obstructive HCM from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China.
Aficamten is also currently being evaluated in ACACIA-HCM, a Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten in patients with non-obstructive HCM; CEDAR-HCM, a clinical trial of aficamten in a pediatric population with oHCM; and FOREST-HCM, an open-label extension clinical study of aficamten in patients with HCM.
Disclaimer
This communication contains a summary of new data related to the clinical development of aficamten presented at the HFSA Annual Scientific Meeting 2025. Aficamten is an investigational drug and is not approved by any regulatory agency. Its safety and efficacy have not been established. Aficamten is currently under regulatory review in the U.S, where the FDA is reviewing a New Drug Application (NDA) for aficamten with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of December 26, 2025. Additionally, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) is reviewing a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for aficamten, and The Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) is reviewing an NDA for aficamten with Priority Review.
About Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium) becomes abnormally thick (hypertrophied). The thickening of cardiac muscle leads to the inside of the left ventricle becoming smaller and stiffer, and thus the ventricle becomes less able to relax and fill with blood. This ultimately limits the heart's pumping function, resulting in reduced exercise capacity and symptoms including chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or fainting during physical activity. HCM is the most common monogenic inherited cardiovascular disorder, with approximately 280,000 patients diagnosed, however, there are an estimated 400,000-800,000 additional patients who remain undiagnosed in the U.S.2,3,4 Two-thirds of patients with HCM have obstructive HCM (oHCM), where the thickening of the cardiac muscle leads to left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction, while one-third have non-obstructive HCM (nHCM), where blood flow isn't impacted, but the heart muscle is still thickened. People with HCM are at high risk of also developing cardiovascular complications including atrial fibrillation, stroke and mitral valve disease.5 People with HCM are at risk for potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias and it is one of the leading causes of sudden cardiac death in younger people or athletes.6 A subset of patients with HCM are at high risk of progressive disease leading to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure necessitating cardiac transplantation.
About Cytokinetics
Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction. Cytokinetics is readying for potential regulatory approvals and commercialization of aficamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor, following positive results from SEQUOIA-HCM, the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Aficamten is also being evaluated in additional clinical trials enrolling patients with obstructive and non-obstructive HCM. In addition, Cytokinetics is developing omecamtiv mecarbil, a cardiac myosin activator, in patients with heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), ulacamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor with a mechanism of action distinct from aficamten, for the potential treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and CK-089, a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator with potential therapeutic application to a specific type of muscular dystrophy and other conditions of impaired skeletal muscle function.
For additional information about Cytokinetics, visit www.cytokinetics.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Cytokinetics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements and claims the protection of the Act's Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to any of our clinical trials, statements relating to the potential benefits of aficamten or any of our other drug candidates, or our ability to obtain regulatory approval for aficamten in any jurisdiction by any particular date, if ever. Cytokinetics' research and development activities; the design, timing, results, significance and utility of preclinical and clinical results; and the properties and potential benefits of Cytokinetics' other drug candidates. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, potential difficulties or delays in the development, testing, regulatory approvals for trial commencement, progression or product sale or manufacturing, or production of Cytokinetics' drug candidates that could slow or prevent clinical development or product approval; Cytokinetics' drug candidates may have adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy; the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies may delay or limit Cytokinetics' ability to conduct clinical trials; Cytokinetics may be unable to obtain or maintain patent or trade secret protection for its intellectual property; standards of care may change, rendering Cytokinetics' drug candidates obsolete; and competitive products or alternative therapies may be developed by others for the treatment of indications Cytokinetics' drug candidates and potential drug candidates may target. For further information regarding these and other risks related to Cytokinetics' business, investors should consult Cytokinetics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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References:
- Masri A, et al. Safety and Efficacy of Aficamten in Patients with Nonobstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A 96-Week Analysis from FOREST-HCM. J Card Fail. 2025
- Chuang C, Collibee S, Ashcraft L, et al. Discovery of Aficamten (CK-274), a Next-Generation Cardiac Myosin Inhibitor for the Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. J Med Chem. 2021;64(19):14142–14152. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01290
- CVrg: Heart Failure 2020-2029, p 44; Maron et al. 2013 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60397-3; Maron et al 2018 10.1056/NEJMra1710575
- Symphony Health 2016-2021 Patient Claims Data DoF;
- Maron MS, Hellawell JL, Lucove JC, Farzaneh-Far R, Olivotto I. Occurrence of Clinically Diagnosed Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy in the United States. Am J Cardiol. 2016; 15;117(10):1651-1654.
- Gersh, B.J., Maron, B.J., Bonow, R.O., Dearani, J.A., Fifer, M.A., Link, M.S., et al. 2011 ACCF/AHA guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines. Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Circulation, 58, e212-260.
- Hong Y, Su WW, Li X. Risk factors of sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Current Opinion in Cardiology. 2022 Jan 1;37(1):15-21
