An international clinical trial revealed that an experimental drug, called aficamten, facilitated exercise and daily activities in people with a common heart disease.
The randomized phase 3 trial, with participation from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), is evaluating the drug developed by Cytokinetics to treat the obstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM.
HCM is one of the most common causes of sudden death in young, healthy athletes. It is often caused by inherited genetic mutations, which cause the heart muscles to thicken and make it harder to function.
The disease causes shortness of breath and reduces a person's ability to exercise.
In the experiment, about half of the participants were given the experimental drug, while the other half took a placebo.
The researchers measured the participants' oxygen levels while they were using treadmills or bicycles.
It was found that those who took aficamten experienced a significant increase in maximum oxygen utilization (1.7 milliliters per kilogram per minute more than those in the control group).
Increased oxygen uptake can improve a patient's ability to engage in physical activity, while decreased oxygen uptake can increase the risk of heart failure and, consequently, death.
“By having more oxygen available during exercise, patients with HCM can walk more easily, perform household chores and do other daily tasks,” said cardiologist Ahmed Masry, MD, director of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at the OHSU Knight Heart and Vascular Institute. "Our recent clinical trial results indicate that aficamten is a promising treatment for HCM."
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and the results were also presented at the 2024 European Heart Failure Society meeting in Lisbon, Portugal.
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