Astellas and Cytokinetics expand accord on skeletal muscle activators

26 December 2014

US biotech firm Cytokinetics (Nasdaq: CYTK) and Japanese pharma major Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503) have amended their collaboration agreement focused on the research, development and commercialization of skeletal muscle activators.

Shares of Cytokinetics jumped as much as 12.7% following the news on December 24, but closed the holiday-shortened trading day up 6.3% at $5.87.

The companies have been jointly conducting R&D activities with the objective to advance novel skeletal sarcomere targeted therapies for diseases and medical conditions associated with muscle weakness in non-neuromuscular indications. The collaboration has been expanded to enable development of CK-2127107, a fast skeletal troponin activator, in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and potentially other neuromuscular indications.

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