Tag: hcm

Results Published from REDWOOD-HCM Phase 2 Trial

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Results from Cytokinetics’ REDWOOD-HCM Phase 2 clinical trial of the experimental drug aficamten were just published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 

Aficamten, a second generation myosin inhibitor, was administered to a small group of 28 patients as part of a phase 2 trial to determine safety of the drug of the drug in obstructive HCM over a 10 week period. 

No safety issues were found, while most trial participants experienced substantial reductions in left ventricular outflow tract gradients. Study participants also reported improvement to their symptoms, while blood tests showed improvement to certain biomarkers of heart stress.   

You can read more about the drug aficamten and Cytokinetics, the company behind it, in the below posts on HCMBeat. Next for aficamten is the Phase 3 trial entitled SEQUOIA-HCM.

Promising Data about Aficamten Presented at Meetings

2 Companies Testing Drugs for HCM

HCM Clinical Trials – the Latest News

The Future of HCM Care

Positive Signs from REDWOOD-HCM

Cytokinetic’s Drug Aficamten & Upcoming HCM Summit – Interview with Dr. Martin Maron

Aficamten Gets “Breakthrough Drug” Status from FDA

More on Aficamten & Mavacamten from ACC 2022

Cytokinetics Announces its Phase 2 Clinical Trial – “Redwood-HCM”

Cytokinetics Moves Forward with HCM Drug Trial

Cytokinetics Announces Positive Results from REDWOOD-HCM Phase 2 Clinical Trial

LGE Seen on MRI Top Risk Factor for HCM

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To date, risk assessment in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has largely focused on whether there is a need for an implantable defibrillator by evaluating an individual patient’s short term risk of sudden death, but has not looked at the long term risks of heart failure and other adverse outcomes over time.

A recent retrospective study by European HCM specialists asked the question of whether the addition of advanced imaging could assist in pinpointing patients at high risk of heart failure and/or other serious HCM complications over time. 

Continue reading “LGE Seen on MRI Top Risk Factor for HCM” →

HCM Genes Common in General Population

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A recent study sought to find how common genetic cardiomyopathies are in the general population. 

By studying United Kingdom Biobank samples from 200,643 people who had undergone complete genetic sequencing, researchers established that genes linked to HCM are found in one out of every 149 people! 

More than half of those identified as having a HCM gene had a mutation in the MYBPC3 gene, making it the most common HCM gene in this sampling.

Jardiance for HCM Patients?

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A recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that patients with non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and diabetes showed significant improvements to diastolic heart function and BNP (a hormone produced by the body which indicates heart wall stress) from the use of a drug used for diabetes known as a sodium glucose co-transponder 2 inhibitor (SGLT2).  

This class of drugs is commonly used to lower blood sugar in diabetics.  One SGLT2 in common usage is Jardiance (empagliflozin).

Since treatments for non-obstructive HCM patients are so limited, this class of drugs presents a potential treatment opportunity for non-diabetic HCM patients as well. 

Hey all you researchers out there – sounds like a good clinical trial!

HCM Impact on Mental Health

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A recent study by Korean researchers found that HCM is associated with mental health disorders, especially during the first year after a HCM diagnosis.  

This study only scratches the surface of the topic, but it does bring up an important point which we hope that medical providers will take to heart:  the mental health of HCM patients is just as important as their physical health and sometimes, mental health referrals and/or medications may be a necessary part of the HCM treatment plan.

Mavacamten Approved in Canada

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Bristol Myers Squibb’s first in class drug  mavacamten (brand name Camzyos) has been approved by Health Canada for the treatment of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The Future of HCM Treatment

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Doctors from the University of Pennsylvania this week published an overview of current therapies available for the treatment of HCM.  While this article mentions all of the old standards – beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, myectomy and alcohol ablation, the real focus is on the future of HCM treatment. In particular, the article describes several new and/or experimental therapies which look promising for the future.

Continue reading “The Future of HCM Treatment” →

Ranolazine Improves Chest Pain in HCM

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A recent paper by Italian HCM specialists found that chest pain completely resolved for 73% of patients who took the drug ranolazine. The researchers also found that the drug was safe and well tolerated.  In addition, it reduced arrhythmias for those whose arrhythmias were triggered by ischemia and it improved biomarkers in HCM patients.

This study is a follow up to the 2018 RESTYLE-HCM study, which found that while ranolazine did not improve heart failure symptoms in HCM, it was useful for treating chest pain.

Apical Aneurysms in HCM

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A recent paper published by doctors at Canada’s Peter Munk Cardiac Center looked at the implications of left ventricular apical aneurysms in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,  This paper recommends that patients with an apical aneurysm of at least 2 centimeters consider prophylactic anticoagulant therapy to prevent stroke, as well as considering surgical placement of an implantable defibrillator to protect against sudden cardiac death.

A companion editorial suggests caution in basing aggressive measures on an aneurysm alone and says that all risk factors be considered together.

In 2017, HCMBeat covered a retrospective study of patients treated at Minneapolis Heart Institute and Tufts which discussed the risks for patients with apical aneurysms.  That can be found here.

Promising Data about Aficamten Presented at Meetings

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Encouraging data about the Cytokinetics investigational drug aficamten was presented over the weekend at 2 scientific meetings held in Washington D.C.

Continue reading “Promising Data about Aficamten Presented at Meetings” →