ALS Association, Cytokinetics Renew Partnership in Fight Against ALS

The ALS Association and Cytokinetics will continue to collaborate in the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through a series of initiatives and research efforts, the organizations recently announced.

As part of this partnership, biopharmaceutical company Cytokinetics is renewing its sponsorship of nationally recognized ALS Association events, including the National Walks to Defeat ALS and the National ALS Advocacy Conference.

Cytokinetics is also a high-level sponsor of initiatives led by the ALS Association Golden West Chapter, including grant funding for care services for the ALS community in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“We have enjoyed our longstanding, successful collaboration with The ALS Association and look forward to continuing our partnership to support the ALS community,” Robert I. Blum, president and CEO of Cytokinetics said in a press release.

The renewed partnership is a continuation of collaboration between Cytokinetics and the ALS Association across several programs. In 2017, the company was involved in many of the association’s research efforts — including the IMPACT-ALS survey, a joint venture between several industry partners designed to gain a deeper understanding of the concerns of people who live with ALS.

“We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Cytokinetics for several years now, and we’re delighted to continue our partnership,” said Calaneet Balas, president and CEO of the ALS Association. “We greatly appreciate their support and ingenuity in drug development as well as their support of initiatives related to awareness, public education and public policy.”

Later this month, representatives from Cytokinetics will attend the National ALS Advocacy Conference in Washington D.C., along with advocates from across the United States.

The conference takes place May 13-15 this year, and will feature sessions focused on the association’s three mission pillars — advocacy, research, and care services — as well as a trip to Capitol Hill to meet with legislators. More information is available here.

Cytokinetics’ employees will also take part in several community events this year, including the Champions for Care and a Cure Gala, ALS Awareness Day with the San Francisco Giants, the Napa Valley Ride to Defeat ALS, and the Every Drop Adds Up campaign.

“Cytokinetics’ involvement in chapter events and support of care services demonstrates their dedication and commitment to people living with ALS in the local community, and we’re grateful to continue our partnership with such a great champion for people affected by ALS,” said Fred Fisher, president and CEO of the ALS Association Golden West Chapter.

Additionally, Cytokinetics is working with Astellas Pharma to develop reldesemtiv (CK-2127107), a next-generation fast skeletal muscle troponin activator.

Reldesemtiv could be a potential treatment for people living with debilitating conditions associated with neuromuscular or non-neuromuscular dysfunction, muscular weakness, and/or muscle fatigue.

The investigational candidate was designed to slow the rate of calcium release from the regulatory troponin complex of fast skeletal muscle fibers and could help improve muscle function and physical performance in people with ALS.

Currently, reldesemtiv is being studied for the treatment of ALS in a Phase 2 clinical trial (NCT03160898) designed to assess the effects of the therapy versus placebo on respiratory function and skeletal muscle function in patients with ALS. The trial is recruiting approximately 445 participants at locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Reldesmtiv has received orphan drug status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May 2017 for the potential treatment of spinal muscular atrophy.