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”
Tag: myosin modulator
What Should Mavacamten Cost?
On October 22, patients, physicians, and other interested parties will have the opportunity to provide input on the value and cost of mavacamten – the first drug specifically designed to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Last year, Bristol Myers Squibb paid $13.1 billion to acquire MyoKardia, the San Francisco biotech company that developed the drug and brought it through clinical trials.
At a virtual public meeting, The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review or ICER will listen to further testimony in order to evaluate mavacamten’s value and potential benefits. ICER is a non-profit organization that evaluates the cost effectiveness of drugs and medical procedures. Many insurance companies rely on ICER’s findings when deciding how much to pay for a certain treatment or test.
In an Effectiveness Report which was published today, ICER valued the benefit that mavacamten would bring to a patient at between $12,000 to $15,000 a year. By contrast, some analysts have suggested that mavacamten could carry a price tag as high as $75,000 per patient per year.
If you would like to share your thoughts at the online public meeting click here to sign up.
You can find a press release from ICER about their review of mavacamten here.
Cytokinetic’s Drug Aficamten & Upcoming HCM Summit – Interview with Dr. Martin Maron
Editor’s note: You have probably noticed a distinct uptick in clinical trials of potential treatments for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HCMBeat has been following this trend and has previously published a host of stories about such trials, including this story about the positive results from the REDWOOD-HCM Phase 2 clinical trial, as well as past stories discussing the biopharmaceutical company Cytokinetics, its drug aficamten (previously known as CK-274), and the REDWOOD-HCM trial.
Some of these earlier stories are as follows:
2 Companies Testing Drugs for HCM
HCM Clinical Trials – the Latest News
Positive Signs from REDWOOD-HCM
Cytokinetics Moves Forward with HCM Drug Trial
Recently, Cynthia Waldman of HCMBeat had the opportunity to speak over Zoom with Dr. Martin Maron, who recently served as the principal investigator of Cytokinetics’ REDWOOD trial. The conversation focused both on Cytokinetic’s drug aficamten (previously known as CK-274), and the new class of drugs known as “myosin inhibitors.” What follows is a transcript of their conversation (which has been edited for readability).
Cytokinetics Announces Positive Results from REDWOOD-HCM Phase 2 Clinical Trial
Cytokinetics today announced positive topline results for its experimental drug CK-274 from its recent Phase 2 REDWOOD-HCM trial for patients who have obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM).
According to the press release, this drug, a next-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor, showed consistent and meaningful reduction in left ventricular outflow tract gradients in HOCM with its effects evident within 2 weeks of starting the drug. The benefits continued until the end of treatment 10 weeks later. No patients had to discontinue the drug or take a break from treatment due to reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. And, the drug was well tolerated and appeared to be free from significant side effects.
Cytokinetics plans to commence a Stage 3 for CK-274 trial by the end of 2021. Full results of the Stage 2 REDWOOD study will be presented at an upcoming scientific meeting.
Mavacamten Approaches Finish Line
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to complete its review of mavacamten and release its decision on whether to approve the drug for sale in the U.S. by January 28, 2022.
This week, Bristol Myers Squibb submitted its New Drug Application for mavacamten to the FDA. Mavacamten is the first drug specifically designed to treat obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The application was based on the recent positive results of the Phase 3 EXPLORER-HCM trial.
In October of last year, Bristol Myers Squibb paid $13.1 billion to purchase MyoKardia, the San Francisco based biotech company which developed mavacamten as a novel cardiac myosin modulator for the treatment of of HCM.
The FDA has assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act goal date of January 28, 2022 to the drug, which means that the FDA is expected to complete its review of mavacamten by January 28, 2022.
DISCLOSURES: CYNTHIA BURSTEIN WALDMAN OF HCMBEAT SERVED AS A PATIENT ADVISOR ON THE STEERING COMMITTEE OF MYOKARDIA’S EXPLORER TRIAL AND IS AN AUTHOR OF THE STUDY AS PUBLISHED IN THE LANCET. CYNTHIA ALSO SERVES ON MYOKARDIA’S PATIENT ADVISORY BOARD.
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