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Investing.com -- Cytokinetics (NASDAQ:CYTK) stock surged 31% after the company reported impressive data from its MAPLE-HCM trial comparing its experimental heart drug aficamten to the standard-of-care beta blocker metoprolol for treating obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM).
The late-stage trial results showed aficamten improved cardiac structure and function compared to metoprolol, with data published simultaneously in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. A separate analysis published in Heart Rhythm demonstrated that the annual incidence rate of atrial fibrillation with aficamten is 1.5%, consistent with expected rates in prediction models for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).
Wall Street analysts responded positively to the data. Needham analyst Serge Belanger called the results a "clear win" for aficamten over metoprolol on both efficacy and safety, noting that aficamten’s superiority on six of seven key endpoints was "likely better than expected."
Citi analyst David Lebowitz suggested the data could initiate a shift in HCM treatment paradigms, stating, "While it will likely take a while for aficamten to push ahead of beta blockers in new-to-therapy patients, we believe MAPLE could initiate a shift in the HCM treatment paradigm."
Cantor analyst Carter Gould said the MAPLE data "matched, if not exceeded, investors’ high expectations, driven by the consistency of improvement with aficamten and the lack of any improvement with metoprolol." Gould added that the results were not only practice-changing but also differentiating compared to Bristol Myers’ Camzyos.
While the MAPLE-HCM trial is not required for FDA approval of aficamten, which has a decision date of December 26, the data will support a supplemental new drug application. The company hosted an investor webcast to discuss the findings in more detail.
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