Full-Time
Associate Director
Medical Science Liaison
Posted on 8/20/2026
Cytokinetics
501-1,000 employees
Develops small-molecule therapies for muscle function
Compensation Overview
$197.5k - $247.8k/yr
Remote in USA
Remote
Remote within the United States, with approximately 30%–50% domestic travel and occasional international travel.
Master's, PharmD, PhD, MD
 Biology & Biotech (1) |
|---|
Get referred to Cytokinetics
See people who can refer or advise you
- An advanced clinical or scientific degree such as PharmD, PhD, MD/DO, MS, PA, or ARNP is preferred.
- For the Associate Director level, a minimum of 5 years of cardiovascular Medical Science Liaison experience is required.
- Candidates must be analytical and articulate in oral and written communications and demonstrate strong presentation skills and the ability to communicate with external stakeholders and all internal organizational levels.
- Candidates must understand Medical Science Liaison roles and responsibilities, including compliance with the PhRMA Code Standards for Interactions with U.S. Healthcare Providers, federal and state promotional laws and regulations, ACCME Standards, the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and company policies, rules, and regulations.
- Candidates must comply with credentialing requirements for healthcare institutions in the Medical Science call plan, including background checks, medical testing or proof of immunizations, facility-policy training, and confidentiality and/or HIPAA agreements.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and web-based applications is required.
- A valid U.S. driver's license and an acceptable driving record are required.
- Ability to travel domestically approximately 30%–50% and internationally on occasion is required.
- Identify national, regional, and local cardiovascular Key Opinion Leaders through a territory strategic plan and engage them in proactive and reactive scientific exchange.
- Maintain and broaden professional relationships with physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and pharmacists in institutional care centers to expand research, advisory, and educational partnership opportunities; identify unmet medical needs; and exchange current medical information about products in development and relevant therapeutic areas.
- Contribute to planning and execution of Congress activities by reviewing scientific programming, attending sessions, supporting exhibit booth operations, and preparing timely written conference reports covering key information, activities, and competitive intelligence.
- Serve as a scientific expert at medical and scientific conferences, advisory boards, clinical investigator meetings, internal meetings, and patient advocacy group meetings.
- Maintain a high level of scientific knowledge about disease states, underlying science, treatment guidelines, available treatment agents and options, and heart failure and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy therapies under development.
- Maintain understanding of current clinical research trends, competitive developments, patient care, and their impact on the company's medical strategies.
- Work with Medical Affairs and internal colleagues on medical information, publications, medical education, grants, speaker training, and other educational programs.
- Support clinical development programs as a key point of contact for company-sponsored trial investigators, investigator-initiated research, and registries consistent with company objectives and regulations.
- Work compliantly and collaboratively with field account specialists in support of MYQORZO.
- Respond accurately and promptly to unsolicited requests for Medical Information.
- Mentor and support Senior Medical Scientists.
- Provide strategic input and execute region-specific plans to achieve Key Opinion Leader engagement and Medical Affairs departmental goals.
- Pursue projects independently with a high degree of quality and timely execution.
- Maintain awareness of current real-world clinical practices, HEOR drivers, and emerging trends in treatments and medicine.
- Establish relationships with key executive leadership colleagues and connect external parties with appropriate leadership team members.
- Bilingual Spanish capability is highly preferred.
- For the Senior Medical Scientist level, 0–5 years of clinical or pharmaceutical industry experience is considered.
- Cardiovascular experience in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and/or heart failure is preferable.
Cytokinetics develops and commercializes small molecule drugs aimed at improving muscle function for cardiovascular and neuromuscular diseases. Its products are designed to either enhance or adjust muscle contraction, with a pipeline that includes compounds like omecamtiv mecarbil, reldesemtiv, CK-274, AMG 594, and CK-601, currently in various stages of clinical trials. The company advances therapies through partnerships, licensing, and potential sales of approved medicines, and relies on extensive clinical testing to demonstrate effectiveness and safety. What sets Cytokinetics apart is its focused approach on muscle function modulators (activators and inhibitors) for both heart and skeletal muscle diseases, targeting conditions such as heart failure, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ALS, and SMA. Its goal is to bring medicines to patients to improve muscle performance and daily function, addressing unmet medical needs in these diseases.
Company Size
501-1,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
South San Francisco, California
Founded
1998
Get referred to Cytokinetics
See people who can refer or advise you
Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- UK MHRA approval and NICE backing broaden MYQORZO access across England and Wales.
- August 2026 Delaware litigation seeks freedom to sell MYQORZO without Bristol royalty pressure.
- Germany launch and Dutch reimbursement expand near-term ex-U.S. revenue before U.S. commercialization matures.
What critics are saying
- MYQORZO depends on one franchise; a patent loss to Bristol wrecks launch economics.
- Second-quarter 2026 revenue fell 57.1% year over year, while operating cash outflow hit $159.8 million.
- If ACACIA-HCM or future aficamten studies disappoint, Cytokinetics becomes a cash-burning one-product story.
What makes Cytokinetics unique
- MYQORZO won U.S., Europe, China, and UK approvals in 2026 for oHCM.
- Cytokinetics owns cardiac myosin biology expertise built over 25 years since 1998.
- Aficamten targets a validated mechanism Bristol Myers already proved commercially with Camzyos.
Help us improve and share your feedback! Did you find this helpful?
Benefits
Health Insurance
Paid Vacation
Professional Development Budget
Growth & Insights and Company News
6 month growth
↑ 4%1 year growth
↑ 6%2 year growth
↑ 3%Cytokinetics targets talent growth with over 45,000 equity awards in August 2026 - what does this signal for investors? 19 August 2026, 9:40 AM Large inducement grants to 12 new employees highlight Cytokinetics' expansion. On August 14, 2026, Cytokinetics (NASDAQ: CYTK) granted stock options to purchase 27,565 shares and 18,273 restricted stock units (RSUs) to 12 new employees. These awards, made under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), are designed as material inducements to attract and retain talent, a nod to the company's ongoing growth strategy. Equity awards align employee interests with long-term success. The structure of these grants stands out: the RSUs will vest over three years (with 40% vesting on each of the first two anniversaries, and the remaining 20% on the third), contingent upon continued service with the company. Meanwhile, the stock options - set at an exercise price of $74.13, matching CYTK's closing price on August 14 - will vest over four years, with a quarter vesting after one year and the balance in monthly increments thereafter. Each stock option carries a ten-year term, making these awards a significant part of employees' long-term compensation. | Award Type | Number of Shares | Vesting Schedule | Exercise Price | Term | | Stock Options | 27,565 | 25% after 1 year, then monthly over next 3 years | $74.13 | 10 years | | RSUs | 18,273 | 40% after 1 and 2 years, 20% after 3 years | N/A | N/A | Talent investment reinforces pipeline and competitive edge. This series of grants follows a period of expansion for Cytokinetics, which in 2026 boasts over 25 years of innovation in cardiovascular drug development. The addition of new employees - and the generous equity incentives - come as the company advances its portfolio, including the recently approved cardiac myosin inhibitor MYQORZO(R) and several other late-stage clinical programs. By aligning new hires' incentives with long-term shareholder value, CYTK signals confidence in its trajectory. The ten-year terms on the options suggest management expects substantial company developments well beyond the next few quarters. Industry context: equity grants as a signal of strategic growth. For investors, large inducement grants like these can telegraph several messages: first, that the company is expanding its workforce to meet upcoming challenges, and second, that it expects its new hires to play an important role in delivering results over a multi-year period. The choice to set the exercise price at the market close ensures transparency and aligns with standard governance practices. Key takeaway: investors should watch CYTK's pipeline and retention efforts. Cytokinetics' move to issue over 45,000 options and RSUs underlines both a commitment to pipeline execution and a vote of confidence in future growth. For those following the company, it's worth keeping an eye not just on clinical milestones, but also on how these strategic talent investments contribute to pipeline progress in the coming years. Contact Information: If you have feedback or concerns about the content, please feel free to reach out to Market Chameleon via email at [email protected]. About the Publisher - Marketchameleon.com: Marketchameleon is a comprehensive financial research and analysis website specializing in stock and options markets. Market Chameleon leverage extensive data, models, and analytics to provide valuable insights into these markets. Its primary goal is to assist traders in identifying potential market developments and assessing potential risks and rewards. NOTE: Stock and option trading involves risk that may not be suitable for all investors. Examples contained within this report are simulated and may have limitations. Average returns and occurrences are calculated from snapshots of market mid-point prices and were not actually executed, so they do not reflect actual trades, fees, or execution costs. This report is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to be a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Neither Market Chameleon nor any other party makes warranties regarding results from its usage. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Please consult a financial advisor before executing any trades. You can read more about option risks and characteristics at theocc.com. The information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. All stock price information is provided and transmitted as received from independent third-party data sources. The Information should only be used as a starting point for doing additional independent research in order to allow you to form your own opinion regarding investments and trading strategies. The Company does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the Information. Disclosure: This article was generated with the assistance of AI
Cytokinetics sues Bristol Myers to void a new patent. Cytokinetics has asked a court to strike down a newly granted Bristol Myers Squibb patent, moving a hard-fought commercial fight between two cardiac drug developers into the courtroom. Cytokinetics Inc (NASDAQ: CYTK) filed suit against Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY) on Wednesday seeking to invalidate a recently granted Bristol patent, turning a commercial rivalry between the two heart-drug developers into litigation; Cytokinetics traded at $74.18, up 0.99%, while Bristol was at $64.29, down 0.56%, as of 18:56 GMT on Aug. 14, 2026. Cytokinetics Inc (NASDAQ: CYTK) has taken its fight with Bristol-Myers Squibb Co (NYSE: BMY) out of the sales channel and into a courtroom. The company filed a lawsuit on Wednesday seeking to invalidate a patent recently granted to Bristol, according to Endpoints News, which described the two drugmakers as fierce market rivals now facing each other as litigants as well. The move is unusual in its direction. Patent fights in branded pharma are typically brought by the patent holder against a would-be entrant. Here the challenge runs the other way: the smaller company is asking a court to strike down protection the larger one has just secured, rather than waiting to be accused of infringing it. That is the posture a company adopts when it believes a competitor's newly issued claims could be read broadly enough to reach across the aisle. A commercial rivalry that had nowhere else to go. Cytokinetics and Bristol have spent years on opposite sides of the same therapeutic problem: treating patients whose heart muscle contracts too forcefully. Bristol got there first commercially through its acquisition of MyoKardia and the cardiac myosin inhibitor franchise that came with it. Cytokinetics has built its identity around its own next-generation candidate in the same mechanism class. Two companies chasing the same prescriber base with drugs that work the same way is a recipe for overlapping intellectual property, and eventually for someone testing the boundaries in court. For Cytokinetics, the stakes are structural. It is a company whose valuation rests heavily on a single cardiovascular program and the freedom to commercialize it without paying tolls to a competitor. A patent that shadows that launch is not a nuisance; it is a claim on future margin. Filing to invalidate it early, before any infringement allegation forces the company onto the back foot, keeps the initiative on Cytokinetics' side of the table and puts a clock on the dispute. For Bristol, the calculus is different. The company is large enough that a single patent challenge on one cardiology asset does not move the consolidated picture much. But it is also a company managing a well-documented loss-of-exclusivity cycle across older products, which makes newer, growing franchises disproportionately important to the forward story. Defending the durability of protection around a growth product matters more than the immediate dollars in dispute. Where the two stocks stood as the filing landed. Markets treated the news as a governance-and-timeline item rather than a shock. As of the last trade at 18:56 GMT on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, Cytokinetics changed hands at $74.18, up 0.99% on the day from a prior close of $73.45, having traded between $72.12 and $74.27. Bristol was at $64.29, down 0.56% from a prior close of $64.65, in a $63.35 to $64.33 range. The backdrop was mildly negative. The S&P 500, via SPY, was at $776.29, off 0.20%; the Nasdaq 100 proxy QQQ was at $729.84, down 0.30%; and the Dow tracker DIA sat at $537.48, lower by 0.08%. Against that, Cytokinetics' gain reads as modest relative outperformance and Bristol's decline as roughly in line with a soft tape. Neither move suggests investors have repriced the outcome of the case in either direction - which is what you would expect at the filing stage, when there is a complaint on a docket and nothing else. What actually gets decided, and how slowly. Patent invalidation is a long game. A declaratory action of this kind typically has to clear procedural questions first - whether the plaintiff has standing to sue over a patent it has not been accused of infringing, and whether the dispute is ripe. Only then does a court reach the substance: whether the claims as granted are novel and non-obvious in light of what was already known. Appeals follow. Nothing about the trajectory of either company's revenue changes in the next quarter because of a complaint filed on a Wednesday. Only then does a court reach the substance: whether the claims as granted are novel and non-obvious in light of what was already known. What can change sooner is behavior. Litigation of this type often runs in parallel with, or ends in, a negotiated outcome - a license, a royalty, a covenant not to sue, a narrowing of claims. Companies file to create leverage as often as to win a judgment. The existence of the suit tells you the parties could not reach terms privately; the eventual resolution will tell you which side had the stronger read on the claims. Signals worth tracking from here. * Bristol's response. A counterclaim for infringement would sharpen the dispute considerably and signal confidence in the patent's breadth. A motion to dismiss on standing would suggest a preference to keep the claims untested. * Parallel administrative challenges. Invalidity arguments are frequently pressed at the patent office as well as in district court. A second front would show Cytokinetics is committed to the fight rather than posturing. * Language in filings and calls. Risk-factor updates and any discussion of the litigation in quarterly disclosures will indicate how material each company considers the exposure. * Commercial share. The court case is a sideshow to the real contest - which drug prescribers reach for. Prescription trends will drive both stocks far more over the next year than any docket entry. For investors, the practical framing is that this is a risk-boundary story, not an earnings story. Cytokinetics is trying to remove an obstacle before it becomes expensive; Bristol is defending an asset it paid to acquire. Both objectives are rational, which is precisely why the matter ended up in front of a judge. Key facts. * Cytokinetics (NASDAQ: CYTK): $74.18, +0.99%, as of 18:56 GMT Aug. 14, 2026 * Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY): $64.29, -0.56%, as of 18:56 GMT Aug. 14, 2026 * Action filed: Lawsuit brought Wednesday seeking to invalidate a recently granted Bristol patent * Market backdrop: S&P 500 proxy SPY $776.29 (-0.20%); Nasdaq 100 proxy QQQ $729.84 (-0.30%) Frequently asked questions. What did Cytokinetics actually file? Cytokinetics filed a lawsuit against Bristol Myers Squibb on Wednesday asking a court to invalidate a patent that had recently been granted to Bristol. Rather than defending itself against an infringement claim, Cytokinetics is affirmatively challenging the validity of the competitor's newly issued patent claims before any dispute over infringement is brought against it. Why would a company sue to cancel a rival's patent? Because a broadly worded patent held by a competitor can create royalty obligations, injunction risk or licensing leverage over a product a company plans to sell. Challenging validity early removes that overhang on the challenger's own timetable instead of leaving it to the patent holder to choose when and where to press an infringement claim. How did the two stocks react? Modestly and in opposite directions. As of the last trade at 18:56 GMT on Aug. 14, 2026, Cytokinetics was at $74.18, up 0.99% from a $73.45 prior close, while Bristol-Myers Squibb was at $64.29, down 0.56% from $64.65. Broad indices were slightly lower the same session, so neither move implies a decisive market verdict. How long could the litigation take? Patent invalidity disputes generally run for years. A court must first address procedural questions such as standing and ripeness, then reach the merits of whether the claims are novel and non-obvious, with appeals possible afterward. Many such cases settle before final judgment through licensing terms or a narrowing of the disputed claims. Does this change either company's financial outlook now? No. A complaint being docketed does not alter reported revenue, costs or guidance in the near term. The financial consequence, if any, arrives later through a judgment, a license, a royalty arrangement or legal expense. In the meantime prescription trends and commercial execution matter far more to both stocks. What should investors watch next in the case? Bristol's response is the key signal: a counterclaim alleging infringement would escalate matters, while a motion to dismiss on standing grounds would suggest an effort to avoid testing the patent. Also worth tracking are any parallel challenges at the patent office and how each company characterizes the exposure in its disclosures.
Cytokinetics (NASDAQ:CYTK) shares down 6.6% - Here's what happened. August 7, 2026 Key points. * Cytokinetics shares fell 6.6% to $75.97 in Friday trading, despite the company reporting second-quarter revenue of $28.6 million and an adjusted loss of $1.50 per share, both better than analysts' expectations. * Investor concerns include a 57.1% year-over-year revenue decline, widening losses, $159.8 million in quarterly operating cash outflow, and continued insider selling. * Wall Street remains broadly optimistic: analysts have a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating and an average price target of $100.85, while the company ended the quarter with approximately $1.17 billion in cash and equivalents. * Interested in Cytokinetics? Here are five stocks we like better. Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ:CYTK - Get Free Report)'s share price fell 6.6% on Friday. The stock traded as low as $76.40 and last traded at $75.97. Approximately 1,067,949 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 51% from the average session volume of 2,162,348 shares. The stock had previously closed at $81.37. Cytokinetics news roundup. Here are the key news stories impacting Cytokinetics this week: * Positive Sentiment: Analyst confidence increased: Needham raised its price target from $102 to $112 and reiterated a "Buy" rating, while Citizens JMP lifted its target from $105 to $110 and assigned a "Market Outperform" rating. The new targets imply roughly 44%-46% upside from the recent share price. The Fly analyst price target report * Positive Sentiment: Second-quarter revenue and EPS beat expectations: Cytokinetics reported revenue of $28.6 million versus the approximately $17.6 million consensus estimate. Its loss of $1.50 per share was narrower than the expected $1.63 loss, providing a modest positive surprise for investors. Cytokinetics second-quarter 2026 results * Neutral Sentiment: The balance sheet remains well funded but requires monitoring: Cytokinetics ended the quarter with approximately $1.17 billion in cash and equivalents, although operating cash outflow was $159.8 million. The company reported a $179.2 million operating loss and a $198.8 million net loss, underscoring the ongoing cost of advancing its pipeline. * Negative Sentiment: Revenue declined sharply year over year: Quarterly revenue fell 57.1% from the prior-year period, while losses widened from $1.12 per share to $1.50 per share. Separately, third-party data showed 49 insider sales and no insider purchases over the past six months, which may add to investor caution. Cytokinetics earnings and insider activity report Wall Street analyst weigh in. A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on CYTK shares. HC Wainwright boosted their price objective on Cytokinetics from $136.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 11th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a "sell (d-)" rating on shares of Cytokinetics in a research note on Friday, July 17th. Needham & Company LLC lifted their price target on Cytokinetics from $102.00 to $112.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on Cytokinetics from $92.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Cytokinetics from $98.00 to $108.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eighteen have issued a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Cytokinetics presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $100.85. Cytokinetics trading down 5.8%. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $78.91 and its 200-day simple moving average is $70.86. The stock has a market cap of $9.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -11.19 and a beta of 0.38. Cytokinetics (NASDAQ:CYTK - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The biopharmaceutical company reported ($1.50) EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of ($1.63) by $0.13. The business had revenue of $28.62 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $17.59 million. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted ($1.12) earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down 57.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Cytokinetics, Incorporated will post -6.2 earnings per share for the current year. Insider buying and selling. In other Cytokinetics news, EVP Andrew Callos sold 14,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, July 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $79.88, for a total transaction of $1,118,320.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 58,555 shares in the company, valued at $4,677,373.40. This trade represents a 19.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Also, CEO Robert I. Blum sold 7,500 shares of Cytokinetics stock in a transaction on Monday, July 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.87, for a total value of $606,525.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 377,820 shares of the company's stock, valued at $30,554,303.40. This represents a 1.95% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. Over the last three months, insiders sold 115,179 shares of company stock worth $9,126,054. 2.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional inflows and outflows. A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Tema ETFs LLC lifted its position in Cytokinetics by 174.6% during the second quarter. Tema ETFs LLC now owns 22,413 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $1,909,000 after purchasing an additional 14,251 shares during the period. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB grew its stake in Cytokinetics by 1.3% during the second quarter. E. Ohman J or Asset Management AB now owns 304,611 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock worth $25,950,000 after buying an additional 3,849 shares in the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its holdings in Cytokinetics by 63.8% in the 2nd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 405,000 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $34,502,000 after buying an additional 157,700 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its holdings in Cytokinetics by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,487 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $212,000 after buying an additional 266 shares during the period. Finally, Seven Fleet Capital Management LP raised its position in shares of Cytokinetics by 492.8% in the 1st quarter. Seven Fleet Capital Management LP now owns 61,269 shares of the biopharmaceutical company's stock valued at $4,038,000 after buying an additional 50,934 shares in the last quarter. Cytokinetics company profile. Cytokinetics, Inc is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel small-molecule therapeutics that modulate muscle function. Founded in 1998 and headquartered in South San Francisco, California, the company applies its proprietary insights in muscle biology to address diseases characterized by impaired muscle performance. Its research spans both cardiac and skeletal muscle targets, aiming to deliver innovative medicines for conditions with significant unmet medical need. The company's most advanced program, omecamtiv mecarbil, is being evaluated for the treatment of heart failure by enhancing cardiac muscle contractility. This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected]. Continue following MarketBeat Before you consider Cytokinetics, you'll want to hear this. MarketBeat keeps track of Wall Street's top-rated and best performing research analysts and the stocks they recommend to their clients on a daily basis. MarketBeat has identified the five stocks that top analysts are quietly whispering to their clients to buy now before the broader market catches on... and Cytokinetics wasn't on the list. While Cytokinetics currently has a Moderate Buy rating among analysts, top-rated analysts believe these five stocks are better buys. Nuclear energy is entering a new growth cycle as rising power demand, expanding data centers, and renewed policy support bring the sector back into focus. After strong gains in recent years, the most impactful phase of nuclear investment may still be ahead. This report highlights seven nuclear energy stocks positioned across the value chain - combining near-term revenue with long-term upside as next-generation technologies scale. Click the link below to unlock the full list.
Cytokinetics announced that the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has granted marketing authorisation for MYQORZO (aficamten) to treat symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in eligible adult patients. Simultaneously, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence issued guidance recommending aficamten for use in eligible adult patients in England and Wales. The MHRA assessment drew on data from SEQUOIA-HCM, a phase 3 study involving 282 adults treated for 24 weeks. Aficamten demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in peak oxygen uptake compared with placebo. The most commonly reported adverse reactions included hypertension, palpitations, dizziness, and systolic dysfunction. Aficamten is a cardiac myosin inhibitor that reduces cardiac contractility and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The company expects availability through the NHS later this year.
Cytokinetics announces inducement grants under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 17, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Cytokinetics, Incorporated (Nasdaq: CYTK) today announced that on July 15, 2026 it granted stock options to purchase an aggregate of 21,220 shares of common stock and 14,067 restricted stock units (RSUs) that will be settled in shares of common stock upon vesting to 10 employees, whose employment commenced in June and July 2026 as a material inducement to their employment. The RSUs will vest over 3 years, with 40% of the RSUs vesting on the first anniversary of the applicable grant date, an additional 40% of the RSUs vesting on the second anniversary of the grant date and the final 20% vesting on the third anniversary of the grant date, in each case, subject to each respective employee's continued service with the Company. The stock options that were granted are subject to an exercise price of $82.62 per share, which is equal to the closing price of the Company's common stock on July 15, 2026 and will vest over 4 years, with 1/4th of the shares underlying the employee's option vesting on the one-year anniversary of the grant date and the remaining shares thereafter vesting in monthly installments at a rate of 1/48th of the shares underlying such stock options over the subsequent 36 months, subject to each respective employee's continued service with the Company. The stock options have a 10-year term. These awards are subject to the terms and conditions of the Company's Amended and Restated 2004 Equity Incentive Plan and the applicable award agreements pursuant to which the awards were granted. The stock options and RSUs were granted as material inducements to employment in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). About Cytokinetics Cytokinetics is a specialty cardiovascular biopharmaceutical company, building on its over 25 years of pioneering scientific innovations in muscle biology, and advancing a pipeline of potential new medicines for patients suffering from diseases of cardiac muscle dysfunction. Cytokinetics' MYQORZO(R)(aficamten) is a cardiac myosin inhibitor approved in the U.S., Europe and China for the treatment of adults with symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM). Following positive topline results in ACACIA-HCM, a Phase 3 clinical trial of aficamten in patients with non-obstructive HCM (nHCM), the company plans to discuss the results with the U.S. FDA and other regulatory authorities. Cytokinetics is also developing omecamtiv mecarbil, an investigational cardiac myosin activator for the potential treatment of patients with heart failure with severely reduced ejection fraction and ulacamten, an investigational cardiac myosin inhibitor for the potential treatment of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, while continuing pre-clinical research and development in muscle biology. For additional information about Cytokinetics, visit www.cytokinetics.com and follow us on X, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube. Disclaimer Omecamtiv mecarbil and ulacamten are investigational medicines. They have not been approved nor determined to be safe or efficacious for any disease state or any indication by FDA or any other regulatory agency. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Cytokinetics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements and claims the protection of the Act's Safe Harbor for forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to Cytokinetics' and its partners' research and development activities of Cytokinetics' product candidates. Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to the risks related to Cytokinetics' business outlined in Cytokinetics' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission particularly under the caption "Risk Factors" in Cytokinetics' latest Annual Report on Form 10-K. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and Cytokinetics' actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates, may differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. 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(R) and the CYTOKINETICS C-shaped logo are registered trademarks of Cytokinetics in the U.S. and certain other countries. MYQORZO(R) is a registered trademark of Cytokinetics in the U.S. and the European Union.