Cardiac Myosin Activation with Omecamtiv Mecarbil in Systolic Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: The selective cardiac myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil has been shown to improve cardiac function in patients with heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction. Its effect on cardiovascular outcomes is unknown. METHODS: We randomly assigned 8256 patients (inpatients and outpatients) with symptomatic chronic heart failure and an ejection fraction of 35% or less to receive omecamtiv mecarbil (using pharmacokinetic-guided doses of 25 mg, 37.5 mg, or 50 mg twice daily) or placebo, in addition to standard heart-failure therapy. The primary outcome was a composite of a first heart-failure event (hospitalization or urgent visit for heart failure) or death from cardiovascular causes. RESULTS: During a median of 21.8 months, a primary-outcome event occurred in 1523 of 4120 patients (37.0%) in the omecamtiv mecarbil group and in 1607 of 4112 patients (39.1%) in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.86 to 0.99; P = 0.03). A total of 808 patients (19.6%) and 798 patients (19.4%), respectively, died from cardiovascular causes (hazard ratio, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.92 to 1.11). There was no significant difference between groups in the change from baseline on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire total symptom score. At week 24, the change from baseline for the median N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide level was 10% lower in the omecamtiv mecarbil group than in the placebo group; the median cardiac troponin I level was 4 ng per liter higher. The frequency of cardiac ischemic and ventricular arrhythmia events was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection, those who received omecamtiv mecarbil had a lower incidence of a composite of a heart-failure event or death from cardiovascular causes than those who received placebo. (Funded by Amgen and others; GALACTIC-HF ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02929329; EudraCT number, 2016-002299-28.).

Mechanistic analysis of actin-binding compounds that affect the kinetics of cardiac myosin-actin interaction.

Actin-myosin mediated contractile forces are crucial for many cellular functions, including cell motility, cytokinesis, and muscle contraction. We determined the effects of ten actin-binding compounds on the interaction of cardiac myosin subfragment 1 (S1) with pyrene-labeled F-actin (PFA). These compounds, previously identified from a small-molecule high-throughput screen (HTS), perturb the structural dynamics of actin and the steady-state actin-activated myosin ATPase activity. However, the mechanisms underpinning these perturbations remain unclear. Here we further characterize them by measuring their effects on PFA fluorescence, which is decreased specifically by the strong binding of myosin to actin. We measured these effects under equilibrium and steady-state conditions, and under transient conditions, in stopped-flow experiments following addition of ATP to S1-bound PFA. We observed that these compounds affect early steps of the myosin ATPase cycle to different extents. They increased the association equilibrium constant K1 for the formation of the strongly bound collision complex, indicating increased ATP affinity for actin-bound myosin, and decreased the rate constant k+2 for subsequent isomerization to the weakly bound ternary complex, thus slowing the strong-to-weak transition that actin-myosin interaction undergoes early in the ATPase cycle. The compounds' effects on actin structure allosterically inhibit the kinetics of the actin-myosin interaction in ways that may be desirable for treatment of hypercontractile forms of cardiomyopathy. This work helps to elucidate the mechanisms of action for these compounds, several of which are currently used therapeutically, and sets the stage for future HTS campaigns that aim to discover new drugs for treatment of heart failure.

Identification of diphenylalkylisoxazol-5-amine scaffold as novel activator of cardiac myosin.

To identify novel potent cardiac myosin activator, a series of diphenylalkylisoxazol-5-amine compounds 4-7 have been synthesized and evaluated for cardiac myosin ATPase activation. Among the 37 compounds, 4a (CMA at 10 µM = 81.6%), 4w (CMA at 10 µM = 71.2%) and 6b (CMA at 10 µM = 67.4%) showed potent cardiac myosin activation at a single concentration of 10 µM. These results suggested that the introduction of the amino-isoxazole ring as a bioisostere for urea group is acceptable for the cardiac myosin activation. Additional structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies were conducted. Para substitution (-Cl, -OCH3, -SO2N(CH3)2) to the phenyl rings or replacement of a phenyl ring with a heterocycle (pyridine, piperidine and tetrahydropyran) appeared to attenuate cardiac myosin activation at 10 µM. Additional hydrogen bonding acceptor next to the amino group of the isoxazoles did not enhance the activity. The potent isoxazole compounds showed selectivity for cardiac myosin activation over skeletal and smooth muscle myosin, and therefore these potent and selective isoxazole compounds could be considered as a new series of cardiac myosin ATPase activators for the treatment of systolic heart failure.

Heart failure drug changes the mechanoenzymology of the cardiac myosin powerstroke.

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM), a putative heart failure therapeutic, increases cardiac contractility. We hypothesize that it does this by changing the structural kinetics of the myosin powerstroke. We tested this directly by performing transient time-resolved FRET on a ventricular cardiac myosin biosensor. Our results demonstrate that OM stabilizes myosin's prepowerstroke structural state, supporting previous measurements showing that the drug shifts the equilibrium constant for myosin-catalyzed ATP hydrolysis toward the posthydrolysis biochemical state. OM slowed the actin-induced powerstroke, despite a twofold increase in the rate constant for actin-activated phosphate release, the biochemical step in myosin's ATPase cycle associated with force generation and the conversion of chemical energy into mechanical work. We conclude that OM alters the energetics of cardiac myosin's mechanical cycle, causing the powerstroke to occur after myosin weakly binds to actin and releases phosphate. We discuss the physiological implications for these changes.

Design and synthesis of sulfonamidophenylethylamides as novel cardiac myosin activator.

The sulfonamidophenylethylamide analogues were explored for finding novel and potent cardiac myosin activators. Among them, N-(4-(N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)phenethyl-N-methyl-5-phenylpentanamide (13, CMA at 10 µM = 48.5%; FS = 26.21%; EF = 15.28%) and its isomer, 4-(4-(N,N-dimethylsulfamoyl)phenyl-N-methyl-N-(3-phenylpropyl)butanamide (27, CMA at 10 µM = 55.0%; FS = 24.69%; EF = 14.08%) proved to be efficient cardiac myosin activators both in in vitro and in vivo studies. Compounds 13 (88.2 + 3.1% at 5 µM) and 27 (46.5 + 2.8% at 5 µM) showed positive inotropic effect in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. The potent compounds 13 and 27 were highly selective for cardiac myosin over skeletal and smooth muscle myosin, and therefore these potent and selective amide derivatives could be considered a new class of cardiac myosin activators for the treatment of systolic heart failure.

Allosteric modulation of cardiac myosin dynamics by omecamtiv mecarbil.

New promising avenues for the pharmacological treatment of skeletal and heart muscle diseases rely on direct sarcomeric modulators, which are molecules that can directly bind to sarcomeric proteins and either inhibit or enhance their activity. A recent breakthrough has been the discovery of the myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil (OM), which has been shown to increase the power output of the cardiac muscle and is currently in clinical trials for the treatment of heart failure. While the overall effect of OM on the mechano-chemical cycle of myosin is to increase the fraction of myosin molecules in the sarcomere that are strongly bound to actin, the molecular basis of its action is still not completely clear. We present here a Molecular Dynamics study of the motor domain of human cardiac myosin bound to OM, where the effects of the drug on the dynamical properties of the protein are investigated for the first time with atomistic resolution. We found that OM has a double effect on myosin dynamics, inducing a) an increased coupling of the motions of the converter and lever arm subdomains to the rest of the protein and b) a rewiring of the network of dynamic correlations, which produces preferential communication pathways between the OM binding site and distant functional regions. The location of the residues responsible for these effects suggests possible strategies for the future development of improved drugs and the targeting of specific cardiomyopathy-related mutations.

Exploration of diphenylalkyloxadiazoles as novel cardiac myosin activator.

To explore novel cardiac myosin activator, a series of diphenylalkyl substituted 1,3,4-oxadiazoles and 1,2,4-oxadiazoles have been prepared and tested for cardiac myosin ATPase activation in vitro. In all cases, three carbon spacer between the oxadiazole core and one of the phenyl ring was considered crucial. In case of 1,3,4-oxadiazole, zero to two carbon spacer between oxadiazole core and other phenyl ring are favorable. Phenyl ring can be replaced by cyclohexyl moiety. In case of 1,2,4-oxadiazole, zero or one carbon spacer between the oxadiazole and other phenyl ring are favorable. Introduction of hydrogen bonding donor (NH) group at the 2nd position of the 1,3,4-oxadiazole enhances the activity. Substitutions on either of the phenyl rings or change of phenyl ring to other heterocycle are not tolerated for both the oxadiazoles. The prepared oxadiazoles showed selective activation for cardiac muscle over smooth and skeleton muscles.

Cardiac Myosin Activators in Systolic Heart Failure: More Friend than Foe?

Despite the rising prevalence of HF, new evidence-based novel therapies for patients with worsening HF remain lacking, e.g., safe inotropic therapies. Traditional inotropes increase contractility by altering intracellular calcium flux, a pathway that may be responsible for the multitude of adverse effects associated with current options. Omecamtiv mecarbil, a direct myosin activator, increases contractility through a distinct pathway by increasing the proportion of myosin heads that are bound to actin in a high-affinity state. Phase II clinical trials in patients with chronic HF with this agent seem promising. A phase III trial investigating this therapy has not yet been pursued to date.

Cardiac inotropes: current agents and future directions.

Intrinsic inotropic stimulation of the heart is central to the regulation of cardiovascular function, and exogenous inotropic therapies have been used clinically for decades. Unfortunately, current inotropic drugs have consistently failed to show beneficial effects beyond short-term haemodynamic improvement in patients with heart failure. To address these limitations, new agents targeting novel mechanisms are being developed: (i) istaroxime has been developed as a non-glycoside inhibitor of the sodium-potassium-ATPase with additional stimulatory effects on the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium pump (SERCA) and has shown lusitropic and inotropic properties in experimental and early clinical studies; (ii) from a mechanistic point of view, the cardiac myosin activators, directly activating the acto-myosin cross-bridges, are most appealing with improved cardiac performance in both animal and early clinical studies; (iii) gene therapy approaches have been successfully employed to increase myocardial SERCA2a; (iv) nitroxyl donors have been developed and have shown evidence of positive lusitropic and inotropic, as well as potent vasodilatory effects in early animal studies; (v) the ryanodine receptor stabilizers reduce pathological leak of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum with initial promising pre-clinical results; and finally, (vi) metabolic energy modulation may represent a promising means to improve contractile performance of the heart. There is an urgent clinical need for agents that improve cardiac performance with a favourable safety profile. These current novel approaches to improving cardiac function provide the hope that such agents may soon be available.

Discovery of Aficamten (CK-274), a Next-Generation Cardiac Myosin Inhibitor for the Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Hypercontractility of the cardiac sarcomere may be essential for the underlying pathological hypertrophy and fibrosis in genetic hypertrophic cardiomyopathies. Aficamten (CK-274) is a novel cardiac myosin inhibitor that was discovered from the optimization of indoline compound 1. The important advancement of the optimization was discovery of an Indane analogue (12) with a less restrictive structure-activity relationship that allowed for the rapid improvement of drug-like properties. Aficamten was designed to provide a predicted human half-life (t1/2) appropriate for once a day (qd) dosing, to reach steady state within two weeks, to have no substantial cytochrome P450 induction or inhibition, and to have a wide therapeutic window in vivo with a clear pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationship. In a phase I clinical trial, aficamten demonstrated a human t1/2 similar to predictions and was able to reach steady state concentration within the desired two-week window.

Orthophosphate increases the efficiency of slow muscle-myosin isoform in the presence of omecamtiv mecarbil.

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a putative positive inotropic tool for treatment of systolic heart dysfunction, based on the finding that in vivo it increases the ejection fraction and in vitro it prolongs the actin-bond life time of the cardiac and slow-skeletal muscle isoforms of myosin. OM action in situ, however, is still poorly understood as the enhanced Ca2+-sensitivity of the myofilaments is at odds with the reduction of force and rate of force development observed at saturating Ca2+. Here we show, by combining fast sarcomere-level mechanics and ATPase measurements in single slow demembranated fibres from rabbit soleus, that the depressant effect of OM on the force per attached motor is reversed, without effect on the ATPase rate, by physiological concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi) (1-10 mM). This mechanism could underpin an energetically efficient reduction of systolic tension cost in OM-treated patients, whenever [Pi] increases with heart-beat frequency.

A novel approach to improve cardiac performance: cardiac myosin activators.

Decreased systolic function is a central factor in the pathogenesis of heart failure, yet there are no safe medical therapies to improve cardiac function in patients. Currently available inotropes, such as dobutamine and milrinone, increase cardiac contractility at the expense of increased intracellular concentrations of calcium and cAMP, contributing to increased heart rate, hypotension, arrhythmias, and mortality. These adverse effects are inextricably linked to their inotropic mechanism of action. A new class of pharmacologic agents, cardiac myosin activators, directly targets the kinetics of the myosin head. In vitro studies have demonstrated that these agents increase the rate of effective myosin cross-bridge formation, increasing the duration and amount of myocyte contraction, and inhibit non-productive consumption of ATP, potentially improving myocyte energy utilization, with no effect on intracellular calcium or cAMP. Animal models have shown that this novel mechanism increases the systolic ejection time, resulting in improved stroke volume, fractional shortening, and hemodynamics with no effect on myocardial oxygen demand, culminating in significant increases in cardiac efficiency. A first-in-human study in healthy volunteers with the lead cardiac myosin activator, CK-1827452, as well as preliminary results from a study in patients with stable chronic heart failure, have extended these findings to humans, demonstrating significant increases in systolic ejection time, fractional shortening, stroke volume, and cardiac output. These studies suggest that cardiac myosin activators offer the promise of a safe and effective treatment for heart failure. A program of clinical studies are being planned to test whether CK-1827452 will fulfill that promise.

Peroxynitrite inhibits myofibrillar protein function in an in vitro assay of motility.

We determined the effects of peroxynitrite (ONOO-) on cardiac myosin, actin, and thin filaments in order to more clearly understand the impact of this reactive compound in ischemia/reperfusion injury and heart failure. Actin filaments, native thin filaments, and alpha-cardiac myosin from rat hearts were exposed to ONOO- in the presence of 2 mM bicarbonate. Filament velocities over myosin, calcium sensitivity, and relative force generated by myosin were assessed in an in vitro motility assay in the absence of reducing agents. ONOO- concentrations > or =10 microM significantly reduced the velocities of thin filaments or bare actin filaments over alpha-cardiac myosin when any of these proteins were exposed individually. These functional deficits were linearly related to the degree of tyrosine nitration, with myosin being the most sensitive. However, at 10 microM ONOO- the calcium sensitivity of thin filaments remained unchanged. Cotreatment of myosin and thin filaments, analogous to the in vivo situation, resulted in a significantly greater functional deficit. The load supported by myosin after ONOO- exposure was estimated using mixtures experiments to be increased threefold. These data suggest that nitration of myofibrillar proteins can contribute to cardiac contractile dysfunction in pathologic states in which ONOO- is liberated.

Inotropes in the management of acute heart failure.

Impaired cardiac contractility is a fundamental component of the heart failure syndrome, initiating the cycle of vasoconstriction, neurohormonal and inflammatory activation, and adverse ventricular remodeling that leads to heart failure progression. Based on this core paradigm, drugs that increase cardiac contractility (positive inotropes) are theoretically appealing as a heart failure therapy, and such agents have been extensively investigated in both acute and chronic heart failure. Although these agents clearly improve cardiac output, their use in heart failure has consistently been associated with increased myocardial oxygen demand, cardiac arrhythmias, and mortality in a variety of clinical settings. Based on these data, the routine use of inotropes as heart failure therapy is not indicated in either the acute or chronic setting. Inotropes may be a necessary evil in a subset of acute heart failure patients, such as those with acute heart failure decompensation in the setting of clinically evident hypoperfusion or shock, or as a bridge to more definitive treatment, such as revascularization or cardiac transplantation. Currently available inotropes, such as dobutamine and milrinone, act (directly or indirectly) by increasing cyclic adenylate monophosphate and therefore intracellular calcium flux. Whether newer inotropes with differing mechanisms of action will realize the potential clinical benefits of inotropic therapy without the risk remains a subject of ongoing investigation.

New pharmacologic therapies for acute heart failure.

Given the limitations of high-dose diuretics and vasodilators and the increasing literature showing that inotropes, regardless of the dose used, have a detrimental effect on mortality, a variety of new agents are under investigation for the treatment of pulmonary and systemic congestion and restoration of cardiac output in the setting of acute heart failure syndromes. The new therapeutic approach is based on two goals: short-term improvement in symptoms together with long-term improvement of cardiac function. This review describes new agents that are in preclinical and in clinical phases with realistic prospects: anti-endothelin, natriuretic peptides, istaroxime, levosimendan, myosin activators, and vasopressin antagonists. Those new therapeutic strategies aim to act at the cellular level to improve vessel and heart functions, with minimal side effects, together with improved sodium and water balance.

Design and synthesis of sulfonamidophenylethylureas as novel cardiac myosin activator.

To optimize the lead urea scaffold 1 and 2 as selective cardiac myosin ATPase activator, a series of urea derivatives have been synthesized to explore its structure activity relationship. Among them N,N-dimethyl-4-(2-(3-(3-phenylpropyl)ureido)ethyl)benzenesulfonamide (13, CMA = 91.6%, FS = 17.62%; EF = 11.55%), N,N-dimethyl-4-(2-(1-methyl-3-(3-phenylpropyl)ureido)ethyl)benzene sulfonamide (40, CMA = 52.3%, FS = 38.96%; EF = 24.19%) and N,N-dimethyl-4-(2-(3-methyl-3-(3-phenylpropyl)ureido)ethyl)benzenesulfonamide (41, CMA = 47.6%, FS = 23.19%; EF = 15.47%) proved to be efficient to activate the cardiac myosin in vitro and in vivo. Further the % change in ventricular cell contractility at 5 µM of 13 (47.9 ± 3.2), 40 (45.5 ± 2.4) and 41 (63.5 ± 2.2) showed positive inotropic effect in isolated rat ventricular myocytes. The potent compounds 13, 40, 41 were highly selective for cardiac myosin over skeletal and smooth muscle myosin, thus proving them these new urea derivatives is a novel scaffold for discovery of cardiac myosin activators for the treatment of systolic heart failure.

Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor 1 Signaling Maintains Endothelial Cell Barrier Function and Protects Against Immune Complex-Induced Vascular Injury.

OBJECTIVE: Immune complex (IC) deposition activates polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), increases vascular permeability, and leads to organ damage in systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. The bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), acting via S1P receptor 1 (S1P1 ), is a key regulator of endothelial cell (EC) barrier function. This study was undertaken to investigate whether augmenting EC integrity via S1P1 signaling attenuates inflammatory injury mediated by ICs. METHODS: In vitro barrier function was assessed in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by electrical cell-substrate impedance sensing. Phosphorylation of myosin light chain 2 (p-MLC-2) and VE-cadherin staining in HUVECs were assessed by immunofluorescence. A reverse Arthus reaction (RAR) was induced in the skin and lungs of mice with S1P1 deleted from ECs (S1P1 EC-knockout [ECKO] mice) and mice treated with S1P1 agonists and antagonists. RESULTS: S1P1 agonists prevented loss of barrier function in HUVECs treated with IC-activated PMNs. S1P1 ECKO and wild-type (WT) mice treated with S1P1 antagonists had amplified RAR, whereas specific S1P1 agonists attenuated skin and lung RAR in WT mice. ApoM-Fc, a novel S1P chaperone, mitigated EC cell barrier dysfunction induced by activated PMNs in vitro and attenuated lung RAR. Expression levels of p-MLC-2 and disruption of VE-cadherin, each representing manifestations of cell contraction and destabilization of adherens junctions, respectively, that were induced by activated PMNs, were markedly reduced by treatment with S1P1 agonists and ApoM-Fc. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that S1P1 signaling in ECs modulates vascular responses to IC deposition. S1P1 agonists and ApoM-Fc enhance the EC barrier, limit leukocyte escape from capillaries, and provide protection against inflammatory injury. The S1P/S1P1 axis is a newly identified target to attenuate tissue responses to IC deposition and mitigate end-organ damage.

Mechanistic and structural basis for activation of cardiac myosin force production by omecamtiv mecarbil.

Omecamtiv mecarbil is a selective, small-molecule activator of cardiac myosin that is being developed as a potential treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Here we determine the crystal structure of cardiac myosin in the pre-powerstroke state, the most relevant state suggested by kinetic studies, both with (2.45 Å) and without (3.10 Å) omecamtiv mecarbil bound. Omecamtiv mecarbil does not change the motor mechanism nor does it influence myosin structure. Instead, omecamtiv mecarbil binds to an allosteric site that stabilizes the lever arm in a primed position resulting in accumulation of cardiac myosin in the primed state prior to onset of cardiac contraction, thus increasing the number of heads that can bind to the actin filament and undergo a powerstroke once the cardiac cycle starts. The mechanism of action of omecamtiv mecarbil also provides insights into uncovering how force is generated by molecular motors.Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a cardiac myosin activator that is currently in clinical trials for heart failure treatment. Here, the authors give insights into its mode of action and present the crystal structure of OM bound to bovine cardiac myosin, which shows that OM stabilizes the pre-powerstroke state of myosin.

Chronic-alcohol exposure alters IGF1 signaling in H9c2 cells via changes in PKC delta.

Previously, we have demonstrated that chronic-alcohol exposure alters insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling in adult rat heart cells. This report examines the effects of alcohol in vitro on the expression of protein kinase C (PKC) alpha, delta, and epsilon using the embryonic heart cell line, H9c2, and how this may be linked to changes in IGF1 signal transduction. Western blot analyses of H9c2 protein preparations demonstrate that there are significant increases in the total protein levels of PKC delta and epsilon after 4 days exposure to alcohol, and similar increases were found after 2 and 6 days exposure. In addition, there was a significant increase in PKC delta and epsilon in the membranal fractions and a decrease in the cytosolic fractions. No change was found in the expression or activity levels for PKC alpha. Chronic-alcohol exposure (100 mM, 4 days) increased the basal tyrosine kinase activity of the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R), and altered its rate of activation. Chronic-alcohol exposure also reduced the rate of Erk1/Erk2 activation by IGF1. Chronic alcohol blocked the proliferative effects of IGF1 on cell growth and reduced cell viability both in the presence and absence of IGF1, and this alcohol-induced reduction in cell viability was blocked using siRNA to inhibit PKC delta. In addition, a reduction in the amount of myosin light chain 2 was found in the alcohol-exposed cells. In conclusion, chronic alcohol alters PKC delta and epsilon expression and activity, and suppresses the IGF1 signaling pathway in embryonic heart cell culture. Blockage of PKC delta expression using siRNA inhibits the suppressive effects of alcohol on cell viability.

Omecamtiv mecarbil: a new cardiac myosin activator for the treatment of heart failure.

INTRODUCTION: Current available inotropic agents increase cardiac contractility, but are associated with myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, and mortality. A novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil (CK-1827452/ AMG-423) is a small molecule that activates the sarcomere proteins directly, resulting in prolonged systolic ejection time and increased cardiac contractility. AREAS COVERED: This paper discusses the chemistry, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy and safety of omecamtiv mecarbil. Omecamtiv mecarbil represents a novel therapeutic approach to directly improve cardiac function and is therefore proposed as a potential new treatment of patients with systolic heart failure. The authors review results of previous studies investigating the effect of omecamtiv mecarbil in heart failure animal models, healthy volunteers, and patients with acute and chronic systolic heart failure. EXPERT OPINION: Results of phase I and phase II studies demonstrate that omecamtiv mecarbil is safe and well tolerated both as an intravenous and oral formulation. In healthy volunteers and chronic systolic heart failure patients, administration of omecamtiv mecarbil resulted in a concentration-dependent increase of left ventricular ejection time, ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and stroke volume. The first results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase IIb dose-finding study with the oral formulation of omecamtiv mecarbil demonstrated beneficial effects on cardiac function and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels. This study will provide essential dosing information for the requisite phase III trials which will investigate whether the beneficial effects of omecamtiv mecarbil translate into improved clinical outcomes.