On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cytokinetics Incorporated’s (NASDAQ:CYTK) Myqorzo (aficamten) for symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM) to improve functional capacity and symptoms.

Myqorzo is an allosteric and reversible inhibitor of cardiac myosin motor activity. In patients with oHCM, myosin inhibition with Myqorzo reduces cardiac contractility and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction.

The full U.S. Prescribing Information for Myqorzo includes a Boxed WARNING for the risk of heart failure.

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Myqorzo reduces left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and can cause heart failure due to systolic dysfunction.

Systolic dysfunction means the heart’s main pumping chamber (left ventricle) is weak and can’t contract properly, failing to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Echocardiogram assessments are required before and during treatment with ...