Amgen, Cytokinetics, and Servier Launch Second Phase 3 Trial of Omecamtiv Mecarbil in Heart Failure Patients

February 25, 2019 /BioonBIOON/ -- U.S. biotechnology giant Amgen, together with its partners Cytokinetics and Servier, recently announced the launch of METEORIC-HF, the second Phase III clinical study of the heart failure drug omecamtiv mecarbil. This novel cardiac myosin activator is currently being developed for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

The METEORIC-HF study, conducted by Cytokinetics in collaboration with Amgen and funded and strategically supported by Servier, aims to evaluate the effect of omecamtiv mecarbil versus placebo on exercise capacity (assessed by cardiopulmonary exercise testing) in patients with HFrEF.

Omecamtiv mecarbil is a novel, selective cardiac myosin activator that binds to the catalytic domain of myosin. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that cardiac myosin activators can increase myocardial contractility without affecting intracellular calcium concentrations in cardiomyocytes or myocardial oxygen consumption. Cardiac myosin is a cytoskeletal motor protein in cardiomyocytes that is directly responsible for converting chemical energy into the mechanical force that drives myocardial contraction. Omecamtiv mecarbil is being developed collaboratively by Amgen and Cytokinetics, with funding and strategic support from Servier, for the potential treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF).

Molecular structure of omecamtiv mecarbil (Image source: Wikipedia)

The METEORIC-HF study isThe second Phase III study in the large-scale Phase III clinical development program for omecamtiv mecarbil, with the other Phase III study being GALACTIC-HF. Patient enrollment in the GALACTIC-HF study is 90% complete, with over 7,000 patients with chronic heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class II–IV) randomized to date. Patient enrollment is expected to be completed in the first half of 2019.

Heart failure is a serious condition affecting more than 26 million people worldwide, approximately half of whom have reduced left ventricular function. It is a leading cause of hospitalization and readmission among individuals aged 65 years and older. Despite the widespread use of standard therapies and advances in care, the prognosis for patients with heart failure remains poor. It is estimated that about one in five people aged 40 years and older are at risk of developing heart failure, and approximately half of those diagnosed with heart failure die within five years of their initial hospitalization. (Bioon.com)

Original Source:Amgen, Cytokinetics And Servier Announce Start Of METEORIC-HF, The Second Phase 3 Clinical Trial Of Omecamtiv Mecarbil In Patients With Heart Failure