September 6, 2012- San Jose, California

"Team Cytokinetics" at the 2011 South Bay Walk to Defeat ALS

Cytokinetics, Incorporated announced earlier this year that the company would be committed to several educational and supportactivities for people with ALS and their families throughout 2012.  In addition, they will provide financial support for special events to raise funds and increase awareness in the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease, and several of their employees will return to participate in  The ALS Association Golden West Chapter’s South Bay Walk to Defeat ALS.

“Team Cytokinetics” was started in 2010. Jeff Jasper is this year's current team captain and is excited to return for his third walk. This year, there are about 20 team members made up from employees of the company, as well as their families, and friends. "Cytokinetics really encourages community participation as a part of our corporate culture," Jasper said.

“At Cytokinetics, our dedicated employees focus our everyday activities towards advancing a potential treatment to assist the courageous patients suffering from this serious disease,” stated Robert I. Blum, Cytokinetics’ President and Chief Executive Officer. “Through our ongoing Research & Development activities on our skeletal muscle activator, tirasemtiv (formerly CK-2017357), we are exposed to patients and caregivers that are battling this disease with persistent optimism and hope.  It is a privilege for Cytokinetics to join them to raise awareness and important funding through community events that enable education and continued research into the causes and possible treatments for ALS.”

"I was really happy to talk with Dr. Bob Miller and Dallas Forshew at the Walk Kick Off event," said Jasper. "It was so wonderful to be a part of this incredible group of committed people that night.  From that meeting, I then had a chance to visit their Forbes Norris ALS Treatment and Research Center and meet various members of the multi-disciplinary team as well as people with ALS and their families.  I am grateful for the opportunity that attending this kick-off event provided."

“Cytokinetics’ presence at these events and other awareness activities has a huge impact on our ALS community,” said Fred B. Fisher, MSW, President and CEO, The ALS Association Golden West Chapter.  “Their generous efforts support many families struggling with Lou Gehrig’s disease, as well as advance cutting-edge ALS research in California and around the globe.”

Cytokinetics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel small molecule therapeutics that modulate muscle function for the potential treatment of serious diseases and medical conditions. The company is currently developing tirasemtiv a skeletal muscle activator, as a potential treatment for diseases and conditions associated with aging, muscle wasting or neuromuscular dysfunction. As reported at the 64th annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology this April, tirasemtiv was shown to be well tolerated at different dosage levels for people with ALS when used in combination with riluzole or alone. Cytokinetics plans to continue discussions with regulatory bodies to confirm the appropriate approach to further study tirasemtiv in people with ALS. 

“These results are encouraging, and we look forward to learning more as the clinical trials progress,” said ALS Association Chief Scientist, Lucie Bruijn, Ph.D. “This is a novel treatment approach and the compound's action is clearly defined. If successful, this treatment will complement other treatment approaches in trial,” continued Dr. Bruijn.

The company hopes the program will move forward by the end of 2012. For more information from Cytokinetics, visit http://tiny.cc/5boadw.

"This is such a devastating disease and we are all focused on doing 'something' about it," said Jasper.  "This sense permeates our company as a whole, and there is real sense of urgency as it relates to working with people with ALS"