Amgen, Inc. (AMGN), Cytokinetics, Inc. (CYTK): A New Approach to Treating a Broken Heart

Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)’s investment in Cytokinetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTK) and OM highlights its desire to cover its bases.  This week’s Q1 results were generally positive, yet the impending patent cliff has all of the large biotechs grasping for new products.  OM is not Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN)’s first soiree into the heart failure market (Aranesp recently failed to achieve its primary endpoint in a Phase 3 trial), but it is the first drug aimed at directly reversing the pathology of heart failure.  Partnership with Cytokinetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTK) provides renewed access to this massive market, as its influence in other markets is challenged by generics and biosimilars over the coming years.

Cytokinetics’ stock took a beating since its partnership with Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) in 2006, but the stock is up over 100% YTD in anticipation of exciting Phase II results for both OM and Tirasemtiv to be released mid-2013.  The future of Cytokinetics rests heavily on the success of only two drugs, but if OM continues to exceed expectations it could prove lucrative for stockholders.  Likewise, Tirasemtiv’s success could spell yet another profitable partnership for Cytokinetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:CYTK).  The next few months should be very telling for the long-term growth of Cytokinetics, a company worth keeping an eye on.

The article A New Approach to Treating a Broken Heart originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Seth Robey.

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