Cytokinetics, Incorporated, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics that modulate muscle function for the potential treatment of serious diseases and medical conditions. The company’s research and development programs relating to the biology of muscle function are directed to small molecule modulators of the contractility of cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle. Muscle Contractility Focus The company is developing various small molecule compounds arising from its muscle contractility programs. Cardiac Muscle Contractility Program The company's cardiac muscle contractility program is focused on the cardiac sarcomere, the basic unit of muscle contraction in the heart. Its primary drug candidate from this program, omecamtiv mecarbil, is a novel cardiac muscle myosin activator. Amgen Inc. holds a license to develop and commercialize omecamtiv mecarbil worldwide, except Japan, subject to its development and commercialization participation rights. An intravenous formulation of omecamtiv mecarbil is the subject of a Phase IIb clinical trial designed to evaluate its safety and efficacy in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction who are hospitalized with acute heart failure, known as ATOMIC-AHF (acute treatment with omecamtiv mecarbil to increase contractility in acute heart failure). The company is also conducting joint research with Amgen Inc. directed to next-generation compounds in its cardiac muscle contractility program. In February 2012, Amgen Inc. initiated a Phase I clinical trial designed to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of multiple oral formulations of omecamtiv mecarbil in healthy volunteers. Skeletal Muscle Contractility Program The company’s skeletal muscle contractility program is focused on the activation of the skeletal sarcomere, the basic unit of skeletal muscle contraction. CK-2017357 is the company’s primary drug candidate from its skeletal sarcomere activator program. The skeletal muscle sarcomere is the basic unit of skeletal muscle contraction. The company is conducting a Phase II clinical trials program for CK-2017357, including two ongoing Phase II clinical trials in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) and an ongoing Phase IIa clinical trial in patients with myasthenia gravis. It has also conducted a Phase IIa clinical trial of CK-2017357 in patients with claudication, which is pain or cramping in the leg muscles due to inadequate blood flow during exercise, associated with peripheral artery disease. CK-2017357 has received orphan drug designations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the FDA) and the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of ALS. The company is also advancing a structurally distinct, fast skeletal muscle sarcomere activator, CK-2127107, in non-clinical studies intended to enable the filing of an investigational new drug application (IND) with the FDA. The company’s skeletal sarcomere activators selectively activate the fast skeletal muscle troponin complex, which is a set of regulatory proteins that modulates the contractility of the fast skeletal muscle sarcomere. Smooth Muscle Contractility Program The company’s smooth muscle contractility program is focused on the discovery and development of small molecule smooth muscle myosin inhibitors. It is conducting preclinical research on compounds that directly inhibit smooth muscle myosin, the motor protein central to the contraction of smooth muscle. These compounds cause the relaxation of contracted smooth muscle, and so may be useful as potential treatments for diseases and conditions complicated by bronchoconstriction, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Other The company is also developing mitotic kinesin inhibitors, including ispinesib, SB-743921, and GSK-923295 for the treatment of cancer. Research and Development The company’s research and development expenses were $37.2 million for 2011. Patents and Other Intellectual Property As of December 31, 2011, the company had 119 issued U.S. patents and approximately 125 additional pending U.S. and foreign patent applications. Significant Events In September 2012, Cytokinetics, Incorporated has entered into a research collaboration agreement with MyoKardia, Inc. History Cytokinetics, Incorporated was founded in 1997.