Cytokinetics Incorporated and Amgen Inc announced that Amgen has exercised its option to obtain an exclusive license, worldwide (excluding Japan), to Cytokinetics' cardiac contractility programme. The license includes CK-1827452, a novel cardiac myosin activator being developed for the treatment of heart failure.

Under the terms of the companies' 2006 collaboration and option agreement, Amgen has agreed to pay Cytokinetics a non-refundable exercise fee of $50 million and has assumed responsibility for development and commercialization of CK-1827452 and related compounds, at its expense, subject to specified development and commercial participation rights of Cytokinetics.

"After reviewing the data from the CK-1827452 clinical trials, we are excited about the opportunity to advance this molecule," said Amgen executive vice president for Research and Development, Roger M Perlmutter. "At Amgen, we are focused on developing medicines for patients suffering from grievous illnesses, including heart failure. CK-1827452, with its novel mechanism of action, has potential utility in the treatment of heart failure patients around the world. We intend to move this molecule forward rapidly into larger and more definitive clinical trials."

"Recently completed clinical trials of CK-1827452 suggest that this drug candidate may represent a major step forward in the treatment of heart failure," stated Cytokinetics' president and chief executive officer, Robert I Blum. "We are looking forward to now expanding our collaboration with Amgen to provide for the advancement of this novel cardiac muscle activator into studies that are designed to further assess the clinical benefit of this exciting compound. Amgen has consistently demonstrated a successful track record with first-in-class mechanism compounds and we are pleased to be moving forward together."

CK-1827452, a novel cardiac myosin activator, has been the subject of a clinical trials programme comprised of multiple phase-1 and phase-2a trials.

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers innovative human therapeutics.

Cytokinetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics that modulate muscle function for the potential treatment of serious diseases and medical conditions.