Mavacamten for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy


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Interventions: Mavacamten (MYK-461)
Therapeutic Areas: Cardiovascular System
Year: 2021

Mavacamten is currently being developed for the treatment of symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) in adults. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic condition whereby areas of heart muscle become thickened and stiff. Blood decreases in the left ventricular volume and narrowing of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) is classified as obstructive HCM (oHCM). HCM is a genetic condition that is caused by a change or fault (or mutation) in one or more genes. The most common symptoms are shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain and light-headedness. Patients with oHCM can develop serious complications such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, malignant ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Mavacamten, intended for oral administration, is the first therapeutic candidate in a new class of direct myosin (protein involved in muscle contraction) inhibitors. It targets excessive contractility and impaired relaxation, heart muscle energetics and compliance, with the intent of correcting the abnormal function of the HCM heart. If licensed, mavacamten in addition to the current standard of care would offer an additional treatment options for adult patients with symptomatic oHCM.