Cytokinetics’ cardiovascular programs are focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of heart failure and other diseases where contractile tissues play a role. The cytoskeleton is central to the contractile function of cardiac, smooth, and skeletal muscle systems. Direct modulation of the contractile proteins in these tissues represents a new and exciting opportunity for the discovery and development of novel therapeutics within several important disease areas.
An elegant example of cytoskeletal organization and function is the sarcomere, the biological and physiological machinery that exists in muscle of all types to power contractility. This cytoskeletal structure consists of molecular cables, springs, motors and regulatory elements that power a wide variety of physiologic processes, from cardiac contraction and the maintenance of blood pressure to the emptying of the bladder and regulation of airway flow. To approach this tremendously diverse therapeutic opportunity, Cytokinetics has created a unique drug discovery platform to discover small molecule modulators of muscle biology and contractility that may have broad application in a number of different therapeutic areas.
