Investors & Media

Company Received Complete Response Letter from FDA for New Drug Application for Omecamtiv Mecarbil

Data from Cohort 4 of REDWOOD-HCM to be Presented at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions; Results Expected from SEQUOIA-HCM in Q4 2023

Second Interim Analysis of COURAGE-ALS Expected to Occur in Q2 2023

Company Provides 2023 Financial Guidance; More than 2 Years of Cash Runway

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., March 01, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2022. Net loss for the fourth quarter was $137.4 million or $1.45 per share and the net loss for the year 2022 was $389.0 million or $4.33 per share. Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2021 was $30.6 million or $0.36 per share and net loss for the year 2021 was $215.3 million or $2.80 per share. Cash, cash equivalents and investments totaled $829.3 million at December 31, 2022.

“Aficamten remains our top priority and is advancing in a broad development program with emphasis on the conduct of SEQUOIA-HCM, our pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in obstructive HCM, and the start of two additional Phase 3 trials,” said Robert I. Blum, Cytokinetics’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time, COURAGE-ALS, our Phase 3 clinical trial of reldesemtiv, is continuing to enroll with the planned second interim analysis expected to occur in the second quarter.  These activities will continue as company priorities while we will also assess potential next steps for omecamtiv mecarbil.  We entered 2023 with a strong balance sheet as we advance multiple late-stage programs as well as make progress in our early-stage pipeline, continuing our 25-year commitment to bringing forward potential new medicines for patients in need.”

Q4 and Recent Highlights

Cardiac Muscle Programs

omecamtiv mecarbil (cardiac myosin activator)

• Cytokinetics announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a Complete Response Letter (CRL) regarding the New Drug Application (NDA) for omecamtiv mecarbil, stating that GALACTIC-HF is not sufficiently persuasive to establish substantial evidence of effectiveness for reducing the risk of heart failure events and cardiovascular death in adults with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, in lieu of evidence from at least two adequate and well-controlled clinical investigations.
  
  
• The European Medicines Agency (EMA) accepted the Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for omecamtiv mecarbil for the treatment of advanced or worsening HFrEF.
  
  
• Ji Xing Pharmaceuticals announced that the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of the People’s Republic of China has accepted the submission of the New Drug Application (NDA) for omecamtiv mecarbil for the treatment of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) in China.
  
  
• Presented results from two additional analyses from GALACTIC-HF (Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac Outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure) at the American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2022, including one showing that the estimated cost reduction due to heart failure events avoided due to treatment with omecamtiv mecarbil averaged $6,052 per patient (26.9% reduction) at three years, and one that showed that women had lower quality of life at baseline and a lower rate of the primary composite outcome, but the treatment benefit of omecamtiv mecarbil did not differ between men and women (interaction p=0.68).
  

aficamten (cardiac myosin inhibitor)

• Continued enrolling patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in SEQUOIA-HCM (Safety, Efficacy, and Quantitative Understanding of Obstruction Impact of Aficamten in HCM), our first Phase 3 trial of aficamten in the U.S. and Europe.
  
  
• Completed enrollment of patients with non-obstructive HCM in Cohort 4 of REDWOOD-HCM (Randomized Evaluation of Dosing With CK-274 in Obstructive Outflow Disease in HCM).
  
  
• Continued preparations for the second Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten as monotherapy in patients with obstructive HCM, MAPLE-HCM (Metoprolol vs Aficamten in Patients with LVOT Obstruction on Exercise Capacity in HCM).
  
  
• Hired a U.S. marketing leader and continued to advance the go-to-market strategy for aficamten in the U.S.
  
  
• Published a manuscript entitled “Phase 2 Study of Aficamten in Patients with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy” in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
  
  
• Published a manuscript entitled “Pharmacokinetics of a Single Dose of Aficamten (CK-274) on Cardiac Contractility in a A31P MYBPC3 Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Cat Model” in Journal of Veterinary Pharmacology and Therapeutics.
  

Skeletal Muscle Program

reldesemtiv (fast skeletal muscle troponin activator (FSTA))

• Continued enrolling patients with ALS in COURAGE-ALS (Clinical Outcomes Using Reldesemtiv on ALSFRS-R in a Global Evaluation in ALS), the Phase 3 clinical trial of reldesemtiv.
  
  
• Announced that the Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) for COURAGE-ALS (Clinical Outcomes Using Reldesemtiv on ALSFRS-R in a Global Evaluation in ALS) convened to review unblinded data from the clinical trial for the first interim analysis and recommended that conduct of the Phase 3 trial continue.
  
  
• Presented results from an additional analysis from FORTITUDE-ALS (Functional Outcomes in a Randomized Trial of Investigational Treatment with CK-2127107 to Understand Decline in Endpoints – in ALS), the Phase 2 clinical trial of reldesemtiv showing that the ENCALS predicted risk scores are strongly correlated with the rate of decline in ALSFRS-R.
  
  
• Published a manuscript entitled “MiToS and King’s staging as clinical outcome measures in ALS: a retrospective analysis of the FORTITUDE-ALS trial” in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration.
  

Pre-Clinical Development and Ongoing Research

• Continued to advance new muscle directed compounds and conduct IND-enabling studies with the expectation of our potentially moving 1-2 drug candidates into clinical development this year.
  
  
• Continued research activities directed to our other muscle biology research programs.
  
  
• Published a manuscript entitled “Distinct Mechanisms for Increased Cardiac Contraction Through Selective Alteration of Either Myosin or Troponin Activity” in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Basic to Translational Science.
  

Corporate

• Joined with the European Organisation for Rare Diseases (EURORDIS) and the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) to recognize Rare Disease Day®, an international campaign elevating the public understanding of rare diseases.
  
  
• Awarded Cytokinetics Communications Grants to patient advocacy organizations serving the heart failure, HCM and ALS communities to support increased capacity in communications, awareness building and community engagement for nonprofit organizations serving the patient community.
  

2023 Corporate Milestones

Cardiac Muscle Programs

omecamtiv mecarbil (cardiac myosin activator)

• Request meeting with FDA to understand what may be required to support potential approval of omecamtiv mecarbil in the United States.
  
  
• Engage with EMA regarding the MAA for the treatment of HFrEF.
  

aficamten (cardiac myosin inhibitor)

• Present data from Cohort 4 of REDWOOD-HCM at the American College of Cardiology’s 72^nd Annual Scientific Session.
  
  
• Present data from 48 weeks of treatment with aficamten in FOREST-HCM at the American College of Cardiology’s 72^nd Annual Scientific Session.
  
  
• Complete patient enrollment in SEQUOIA-HCM in Q2 2023, with results expected in Q4 2023.
  
  
• Begin MAPLE-HCM, the second Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten as monotherapy in patients with obstructive HCM in Q2 2023.
  
  
• Begin a Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten in non-obstructive HCM in 2H 2023.
  
  
• Advance U.S. go-to-market strategy for aficamten.
  

CK-3828136 (CK-136) (cardiac troponin activator)

• Expect data from the Phase 1 study of CK-136 in 2H 2023.
  

Skeletal Muscle Program

reldesemtiv (fast skeletal muscle troponin activator (FSTA))

• Expect the Data Monitoring committee to conduct the second interim analysis from COURAGE-ALS in Q2 2023, which will assess for futility and allow for a fixed increase in total enrollment, if deemed necessary, to augment the statistical power of the trial.
  
  
• Complete patient enrollment in COURAGE-ALS in Q2 2023, subject to second interim analysis.
  

Pre-Clinical Development and Ongoing Research

• Expect to advance CK-4021586, an additional cardiac myosin inhibitor, into clinical development in 1H 2023.
  

Financials

Revenues for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 were $2.0 million and $94.6 million, respectively, compared to $55.6 million and $70.4 million for the corresponding period in 2021. The increase in revenues for the prior year was primarily due to the recognition of $54.9 million of license revenue recognized for the transaction with Ji Xing.

Research and development expenses for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 increased to $75.0 million and $240.8 million, respectively, compared to $43.5 million and $159.9 million for the same period in 2021. The changes were primarily due to increases in current year activities for clinical development for COURAGE-ALS and our cardiac myosin inhibitor programs.

General and administrative expenses for the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022 increased to $54.0 million and $178.0 million, respectively, from $33.8 million and $96.8 million for the same period in 2021 due to higher outside service spending in anticipation of the potential launch of omecamtiv mecarbil and an increase in personnel related cost including stock-based compensation.

2023 Financial Guidance

The company today announced financial guidance for 2023. The company anticipates revenue will be up to $5 million, driven by Astellas reimbursement of the costs of COURAGE-ALS. In addition, we expect to receive $50 million in a milestone payment from Royalty Pharma upon the start of the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten in nHCM. Operating expenses will be in the range of $420 to $450 million, and net cash utilization will be approximately $350 to $375 million. Our current cash balance of approximately $830 million represents more than 2 years of forward cash based on our projected 2023 operating expenses and net cash utilization.

Conference Call and Webcast Information

Members of Cytokinetics’ senior management team will review the company’s fourth quarter results on a conference call today at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The conference call will be simultaneously webcast and can be accessed from the homepage and in the Investors & Media section of Cytokinetics’ website at www.cytokinetics.com. The live audio of the conference call can also be accessed by telephone by registering in advance at the following link: Cytokinetics Q4 2022 Earnings Conference Call. Upon registration, participants will receive a dial-in number and a unique passcode to access the call. An archived replay of the webcast will be available via Cytokinetics’ website for twelve months.

About Cytokinetics 

Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing and commercializing first-in-class muscle activators and next-in-class muscle inhibitors as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which muscle performance is compromised. As a leader in muscle biology and the mechanics of muscle performance, the company is developing small molecule drug candidates specifically engineered to impact muscle function and contractility. Cytokinetics is developing omecamtiv mecarbil, a cardiac muscle activator in patients with heart failure. Cytokinetics is also developing aficamten, a next-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor, currently the subject of SEQUOIA-HCM, the Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten in patients with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Aficamten is also being evaluated in non-obstructive HCM in Cohort 4 of the Phase 2 clinical trial, REDWOOD-HCM. Cytokinetics is also developing reldesemtiv, an investigational fast skeletal muscle troponin activator, currently the subject of COURAGE-ALS, a Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In 2023, Cytokinetics is celebrating its 25-year history of pioneering innovation in muscle biology and related pharmacology focused to diseases of muscle dysfunction and conditions of muscle weakness.

For additional information about Cytokinetics, visit www.cytokinetics.com and follow us on Twitter, 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 claims the protection of the Act’s Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but not limited to, statements, express or implied, relating to our or our partners’ research and development and commercial readiness activities, including the initiation, conduct, design, enrollment, progress, continuation, completion, timing and results of any of our clinical trials, or more specifically, our ability to remedy any of the deficiencies contained in FDA’s complete response letter to our NDA for omecamtiv mecarbil or obtain approval of our marketing authorisation application for omecamtiv mecarbil in the E.U., our ability to complete patient enrollment in SEQUOIA-HCM in the second quarter of 2023 or issue topline results of SEQUOIA-HCM in the fourth quarter of 2023, our ability to conduct IND-enabling studies and to advance new muscle directed compounds into clinical development in the next year, if at all, our ability to begin MAPLE-HCM in the second quarter of 2023 or to begin a phase 3 trial of aficamten in patients with non-obstructive HCM in the second half of 2023, our ability to conduct a second interim analysis of COURAGE-ALS in the second quarter of 2023 or to complete patient enrollment in COURAGE-ALS in the second quarter of 2023, our ability to announce the results of the phase 1 clinical trial of CK-136 in the second half of 2023, our ability to advance CK-586 into clinical development in the first half of 2023, the timing of interactions with FDA or any other regulatory authorities in connection to any of our drug candidates and the outcomes of such interactions; statements relating to the potential patient population who could benefit from omecamtiv mecarbil, aficamten, reldesemtiv or any of our other drug candidates; statements relating to our ability to receive additional capital or other funding, including, but not limited to, our ability to meet any of the conditions relating to or to otherwise secure additional sale proceeds or loan disbursements under any of our agreements with entities affiliated with Royalty Pharma or additional milestone payments from Ji Xing; and statements relating to our cash balance at any particular date or the amount of cash runway such cash balance represents at any particular time. 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 Cytokinetics’ need for additional funding and such additional funding may not be available on acceptable terms, if at all; 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; patient enrollment for or conduct of clinical trials may be difficult or delayed; the FDA or foreign regulatory agencies may delay or limit Cytokinetics’ or its partners’ ability to conduct clinical trials; Cytokinetics may incur unanticipated research and development and other costs; 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, particularly under the caption “Risk Factors” in Cytokinetics’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year 2022. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and Cytokinetics’ actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Any forward-looking statements that Cytokinetics makes in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Cytokinetics assumes no obligation to update its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this press release.

CYTOKINETICS® and the CYTOKINETICS and C-shaped logo are registered trademarks of Cytokinetics in the U.S. and certain other countries.

Contact:
Cytokinetics
Diane Weiser
Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Investor Relations
(415) 290-7757

Source: Cytokinetics, Incorporated