Amgen moving omecamtiv mecarbil into Phase III

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) will advance omecamtiv mecarbil into Phase III testing to treat chronic heart failure (CHF), with a cardiovascular outcomes study of the cardiac myosin activator expected to start next quarter. Amgen has exclusive worldwide rights to omecamtiv mecarbil from Cytokinetics Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTK).

Amgen will run the Phase III CV outcomes study. The partners are also planning a potential exercise performance and cardiac function study that would be run by Cytokinetics. Cytokinetics President and CEO Robert Blum said the CV outcomes study will enroll thousands of patients, and said more details on the design, including the endpoints, will be disclosed next quarter. ...