Cytokinetics announced the award of a grant from Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (FSMA) to support preclinical research on muscle function in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) to be conducted with the company’s fast skeletal muscle troponin activator, tirasemtiv.
Tirasemtiv, the lead drug candidate from Cytokinetics’ skeletal muscle contractility program, selectively activates the fast skeletal muscle troponin complex by increasing its sensitivity to calcium, thereby increasing skeletal muscle force in response to neuronal input and delaying the onset and reducing the degree of muscle fatigue.
The objective of this new funded preclinical research is to examine whether tirasemtiv can improve muscle function in mouse models of SMA. Cytokinetics will examine the effects of tirasemtiv on leg and respiratory muscle function and the effects of tirasemtiv to reduce fatigue and improve muscle strength during exercise.
“There remains a significant unmet medical need for a novel therapy that can improve muscle function, including respiratory muscle function, in patients with SMA,” stated Jill Jarecki, Ph.D., Research Director of Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. “If tirasemtiv can improve muscle function in mouse models of SMA, it may also ameliorate muscle weakness in patients with SMA and thereby has the potential to improve quality of life for patients affected by this disease.”
“We are pleased to be the recipient of this grant funding from Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy which will enable us to investigate the potential of tirasemtiv to address some of the unmet needs of this grievous disease,” stated Jeffrey Jasper, Ph.D., Cytokinetics’ Head of Pharmacology. “We look forward to working with Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy on this important project which may inform Cytokinetics’ plans for future clinical development activities of tirasemtiv.”
Tirasemtiv, the lead drug candidate from Cytokinetics’ skeletal muscle contractility program, selectively activates the fast skeletal muscle troponin complex by increasing its sensitivity to calcium, thereby increasing skeletal muscle force in response to neuronal input and delaying the onset and reducing the degree of muscle fatigue.
The objective of this new funded preclinical research is to examine whether tirasemtiv can improve muscle function in mouse models of SMA. Cytokinetics will examine the effects of tirasemtiv on leg and respiratory muscle function and the effects of tirasemtiv to reduce fatigue and improve muscle strength during exercise.
“There remains a significant unmet medical need for a novel therapy that can improve muscle function, including respiratory muscle function, in patients with SMA,” stated Jill Jarecki, Ph.D., Research Director of Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. “If tirasemtiv can improve muscle function in mouse models of SMA, it may also ameliorate muscle weakness in patients with SMA and thereby has the potential to improve quality of life for patients affected by this disease.”
“We are pleased to be the recipient of this grant funding from Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy which will enable us to investigate the potential of tirasemtiv to address some of the unmet needs of this grievous disease,” stated Jeffrey Jasper, Ph.D., Cytokinetics’ Head of Pharmacology. “We look forward to working with Families of Spinal Muscular Atrophy on this important project which may inform Cytokinetics’ plans for future clinical development activities of tirasemtiv.”
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