Cytokinetics Inc Stock Price, News & Analysis

Cytokinetics (CYTK) has granted equity-based compensation to 7 new employees who joined in November 2024. The package includes 34,515 stock options at an exercise price of $51.86 per share and 22,410 restricted stock units (RSUs).

The RSUs will vest over 3 years: 40% after year one, 40% after year two, and 20% after year three. The stock options will vest over 4 years: 25% after the first year, with the remaining vesting monthly over 36 months. The options have a 10-year term. These grants were made as employment inducements under Nasdaq Rule 5635(c)(4).

Cytokinetics (CYTK) announced the start of COMET-HF, a confirmatory Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating omecamtiv mecarbil in patients with symptomatic heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction. The trial, conducted with Duke Clinical Research Institute, will enroll approximately 1,800 patients randomized 1:1 to receive omecamtiv mecarbil or placebo. The primary endpoint is time to first event in a composite of cardiovascular death, first heart failure event, LVAD implantation, cardiac transplantation, or stroke. Eligible patients must have ejection fraction <30%, NT-proBNP ≥1,000 pg/mL, and a heart failure event within six months. The study includes a two-week run-in period and two-week washout period before randomization.

Cytokinetics (CYTK) has announced its participation in two major investor conferences this December. The company will join the 7th Annual Evercore ISI HealthconX Conference for a fireside chat on December 3, 2024, at 9:35 AM ET in Coral Gables, FL. Additionally, they will participate in the 36th Annual Piper Sandler Healthcare Conference on December 4, 2024, at 8:00 AM ET in New York.

Both fireside chats will be accessible via live webcast through Cytokinetics' website's Investors & Media section, with recordings available for 90 days after the events.

Cytokinetics (CYTK) announced FDA acceptance of its New Drug Application (NDA) for aficamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor for treating obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The FDA set a PDUFA target date of September 26, 2025, with standard review and no planned advisory committee meeting.

The NDA is supported by SEQUOIA-HCM Phase 3 trial results, which showed significant improvement in exercise capacity with aficamten versus placebo. The drug demonstrated positive impacts on exercise capacity, clinical outcomes, and cardiac biomarkers, with statistically significant improvements in all 10 prespecified secondary endpoints. Treatment-emergent serious adverse events were lower in the aficamten group (5.6%) compared to placebo (9.3%).

Cytokinetics (CYTK) and Bayer have established an exclusive licensing agreement for aficamten in Japan, focusing on treating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The deal includes an upfront payment of €50 million to Cytokinetics, with potential additional earnings of €90 million in milestones through commercial launch (including €20 million near-term) and up to €490 million in commercial milestone payments. The collaboration involves tiered royalties on Japanese sales and joint development plans, with Bayer conducting Phase 3 trials for obstructive HCM in Japan while Cytokinetics expands its ACACIA-HCM and CEDAR-HCM trials into the region.

Cytokinetics (CYTK) presented new post-hoc analyses of GALACTIC-HF, their Phase 3 trial of omecamtiv mecarbil for heart failure, at AHA Scientific Sessions 2024. The analyses showed that the drug reduced risk of adverse cardiac outcomes in severe heart failure patients regardless of age. Among 8,232 patients studied over 21.8 months, the treatment demonstrated significant risk reductions in both age groups (<65 and ≥65 years). The drug also showed potential benefits in reducing ventricular arrhythmias (VA) risk in patients with severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

Cytokinetics presented new data for aficamten in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2024. Analysis from SEQUOIA-HCM showed aficamten improved post-exercise oxygen uptake recovery and quality of life measures. FOREST-HCM data revealed that after 12 weeks of treatment, only 3% of previously eligible patients remained candidates for septal reduction therapy, down from 35%. Real-world cost analysis of 5,129 HCM patients showed significant cost variations: male patients had higher overall costs ($71,581 vs $63,710 for females), younger patients (18-39) faced higher costs across most categories, and notable cost differences were observed across racial/ethnic groups.

Cytokinetics (CYTK) has announced its participation in the 2024 Jefferies London Healthcare Conference. The company will engage in a fireside chat scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 4:00 PM GMT at The Waldorf Hilton Hotel in London.

A live webcast of the discussion will be accessible through the Investors & Media section of Cytokinetics' website. The replay will remain available on the company's website for 90 days after the event concludes.

Cytokinetics (CYTK) has initiated a Phase 1 clinical study of CK-4015089 (CK-089), a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator (FSTA). The trial is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study evaluating safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in healthy participants. The study includes single and multiple ascending dose cohorts, each with 10 participants. CK-089 showed promising pre-clinical results, increasing muscle force and function in animal models, suggesting potential applications in muscular dystrophy and other conditions of impaired muscle function.