Cytokinetics, Inc. to Present Non-Clinical Data Relating to CK-2017357 at the 5th Cachexia Conference

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - November 30, 2009) -

Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CYTK) announced today that a poster and oral presentation summarizing non-clinical data regarding CK-2017357, a fast skeletal troponin activator, are scheduled to be presented at the 5th Cachexia Conference, organized by the Society on Cachexia and Wasting Disorders, being held December 5-8, 2009 at the Princesa Sofia Hotel in Barcelona, Spain.

In June 2009, Cytokinetics announced that it had initiated a first-time-in-humans Phase I clinical trial of CK-2017357 in healthy male volunteers. The first part, or “Part A,” of this trial is designed to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic profile of this drug candidate and to determine its maximum tolerated dose and plasma concentration, and is on-going. In November 2009, Cytokinetics announced that the company had initiated the second part, or “Part B,” of this clinical trial. Part B is designed to evaluate the pharmacodynamic effect of single doses that have been tolerated to date in Part A of this trial. In November 2009, the company also announced the initiation of a second Phase I clinical trial to investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetic profile of CK-2017357 after multiple oral doses to steady state in healthy male volunteers.

CK-2017357 is a fast skeletal muscle troponin activator and is the lead drug candidate from the company’s skeletal sarcomere activator program. CK-2017357 selectively activates the fast skeletal troponin complex and increases its sensitivity to calcium, leading to an increase in skeletal muscle force. This mechanism of action has demonstrated encouraging pharmacological activity in preclinical models that may relate to the potential treatment of diseases associated with aging, muscle wasting or neuromuscular dysfunction.

Oral Presentation

Session #14: “Direct Activation of the Skeletal Sarcomere by the Troponin Activator, CK-2017357, a Novel Approach to Improving Skeletal Muscle Function” is scheduled to be presented in the I-Clinical Track - Clinical Trials: Late Breaking Approaches, on Monday, December 7, from 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Central European Time. The presentation will be made by Fady Malik, MD, PhD, FACC, Vice President, Biology and Therapeutics, Cytokinetics, Inc., South San Francisco, California.

Poster Presentation

The abstract titled, “The Fast Skeletal Troponin Activator, CK-2017357, Increases Skeletal Muscle Force in-vitro and in-situ” is scheduled to be displayed as a poster presentation on December 6, 2009 - December 7, 2009 during the Poster Sessions.

About Cytokinetics

Cytokinetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of small molecule therapeutics that modulate muscle function for the potential treatment of serious diseases and medical conditions. Cytokinetics’ lead drug candidate from its cardiac muscle contractility program, omecamtiv mecarbil (formerly CK-1827452), is in Phase II clinical development for the potential treatment of heart failure. Amgen Inc. holds an exclusive license worldwide (excluding Japan) to develop and commercialize omecamtiv mecarbil and related compounds, subject to Cytokinetics’ specified development and commercialization participation rights. Cytokinetics is independently developing CK-2017357, a skeletal muscle activator, as a potential treatment for diseases and conditions associated with aging, muscle wasting or neuromuscular dysfunction. CK-2017357 is in Phase I clinical development. Cytokinetics is also conducting non-clinical development of compounds that inhibit smooth muscle contractility and which may be useful as potential treatments for diseases and conditions such as systemic hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension or bronchoconstriction. In addition, prior Cytokinetics’ research generated three anti-cancer drug candidates in Phase I clinical development: ispinesib, SB-743921 and GSK-923295. Cytokinetics is seeking a partner for ispinesib and SB-743921. GSK-923295 is being developed by GlaxoSmithKline in collaboration with Cytokinetics. All of these drug candidates and potential drug candidates have arisen from Cytokinetics’ research activities and are directed towards the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is a complex biological infrastructure that plays a fundamental role within every human cell. Additional information about Cytokinetics can be obtained at www.cytokinetics.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Act”). Cytokinetics disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements, and claims the protection of the Act’s safe harbor for forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to planned presentations, Cytokinetics’ clinical trials for CK-2017357, and the properties and potential benefits of Cytokinetics’ drug candidates and potential drug candidates. Such statements are based on management’s current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, potential difficulties or delays in the development, testing, regulatory approval and production of Cytokinetics’ drug candidates and potential drug candidates that could slow or prevent clinical development or product approval, including risks that current and past results of clinical trials or preclinical studies may not be indicative of future clinical trials results and that Cytokinetics’ drug candidates and potential drug candidates may have unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy. For further information regarding these and other risks related to Cytokinetics’ business, investors should consult Cytokinetics’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.