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Cytokinetics Announces New PDUFA Date for Aficamten in Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Key Takeaway: Cytokinetics announced that the FDA has extended the PDUFA action date for aficamten, its drug for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, to December 26, 2025. This extension is due to the FDA needing more time to review the proposed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy submitted by Cytokinetics. The company remains optimistic about the drug's benefit-risk profile, especially following positive results from the SEQUOIA-HCM trial. Importantly, no additional studies have been requested, suggesting the FDA may be satisfied with the existing clinical data.

Market Sentiment Analysis

POSITIVE FACTORS

  • FDA has extended the review period rather than rejecting the application.
  • Cytokinetics remains confident in the benefits of aficamten and its risk profile.
  • No additional clinical data or studies have been requested from Cytokinetics.

CONCERNS & RISKS

  • The extension of the PDUFA date indicates that the review process is taking longer than initially anticipated.
  • The requirement for a REMS may indicate potential concerns about the drug's safety or risk management.

Full Press Release Details

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date for the New Drug Application (NDA) for aficamten for the treatment of patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) to December 26, 2025. The FDA recently notified Cytokinetics that additional time is required to conduct a full review of the company’s proposed Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).
Following pre-NDA discussions with FDA in which safety and risk mitigation were discussed, Cytokinetics submitted the NDA for aficamten in oHCM without an accompanying REMS, and the FDA accepted the NDA for filing. Recently, during the NDA review, the FDA requested that Cytokinetics submit a REMS, based on the inherent characteristics of aficamten, which the company provided. The submission of a REMS has now been determined by FDA to be a Major Amendment to the NDA resulting in a standard three-month extension to the original PDUFA action date. No additional clinical data or studies have been requested of Cytokinetics by FDA.
“We remain confident in the distinct benefit-risk and pharmaceutic profile of aficamten and continue to expect a differentiated label and risk mitigation profile upon its potential approval by FDA,” said Robert I. Blum, Cytokinetics’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to continuing our constructive engagement with the FDA regarding the NDA for aficamten.”
Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology to advance a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction. Cytokinetics is readying for potential regulatory approvals and commercialization of aficamten, a cardiac myosin inhibitor following positive results from SEQUOIA-HCM, the pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Aficamten is also being evaluated in additional clinical trials enrolling patients with obstructive and non-obstructive HCM. Cytokinetics is also developing omecamtiv mecarbil, a cardiac myosin activator, in patients with heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), CK-586, a cardiac myosin inhibitor with a mechanism of action distinct from aficamten, for the potential treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and CK-089, a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator with potential therapeutic application to a specific type of muscular dystrophy and other conditions of impaired skeletal muscle function.
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 receipt of regulatory approval by FDA or any other regulatory authority to enable our commercialization of aficamten in the United States or any other jurisdiction by the target PDUFA date or any other date, if ever, and statements regarding our expectation that aficamten will be approved with a differentiated label and REMS. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including FDA’s on-going review of our NDA for aficamten in obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 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 ended December 31, 2024. 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.
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new PDUFA date for aficamten?

The new PDUFA date for aficamten is December 26, 2025.

Why was the aficamten application extended?

The extension was due to the FDA needing more time for a full review of the REMS.

Is additional clinical data required for aficamten's NDA?

No additional clinical data or studies have been requested by the FDA.

What type of drug is aficamten?

Aficamten is a cardiac myosin inhibitor for treating obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Who is the CEO of Cytokinetics?

The CEO of Cytokinetics is Robert I. Blum.

Last updated: May 1, 2025