Cytokinetics Announces Final Phase IIa Clinical Trial Data for CK-1827452 Presented at the 2009 Annual Scientific

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Mar 30 (MARKET WIRE) --
Cytokinetics, Incorporated (NASDAQ: CYTK) announced today that data from
a Phase IIa clinical trial for CK-1827452 were presented at the 2009
Annual Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology. These
data represent the final results from this Phase IIa clinical trial
evaluating CK-1827452 in stable heart failure patients. CK-1827452 is a
novel cardiac myosin activator being developed for the potential
treatment of patients with either acutely decompensated or chronic heart
failure.

The poster titled, "The Selective Cardiac Myosin Activator, CK-1827452,
Increases Systolic Function in a Concentration-Dependent Manner in
Patients with Stable Heart Failure" was presented on Sunday, March 29,
2009, by Roxy Senior, MD, DM, FRCP, FESC, FACC, Director of Cardiac
Research, Northwick Park Hospital, Middlesex Harrow UK. The clinical
trial was multi-center, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled.
The primary objective of this clinical trial was to evaluate the safety
and tolerability of CK-1827452 administered as an intravenous infusion to
stable heart failure patients. The secondary objectives were to establish
a relationship between plasma concentration and pharmacodynamic effect for
CK-1827452 and to determine the pharmacokinetics of CK-1827452 in this
population. Overall, in 45 patients, a total of 151 treatment periods were
initiated.

The authors concluded that CK-1827452 increased systolic ejection time,
stroke volume, cardiac output, fractional shortening, and ejection
fraction in a concentration dependent manner (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p <
0.0005, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.009 respectively). More specifically,
statistically significant increases were demonstrated in systolic
ejection time (p < 0.0001) and fractional shortening (p < 0.04) at plasma
concentrations greater than 100 ng/mL, in stroke volume (p < 0.01) at
greater than 200 ng/mL, and in cardiac output (p < 0.02) at greater than
300 ng/mL. At plasma concentrations greater than 400 ng/mL, increases in
stroke volume and cardiac output appeared to plateau in association with
concentration dependent decline in heart rate (p < 0.0001). In addition,
the data demonstrated statistically significant correlations between
increasing CK-1827452 plasma concentration and decreases in left
ventricular end-systolic volume (p < 0.0001) and left ventricular
end-diastolic volume (p < 0.0005). The effects of CK-1827452 on systolic
ejection time and stroke volume appeared to be persistent over a period
of a 24-hour period. With 72 hours of infusion, decreases in ventricular
volumes appeared sustained. The authors also concluded the improvements
in cardiac systolic performance accompanied by the declines in left
ventricular volumes observed in this trial may have been the consequence
of decreases in filling pressure.

CK-1827452 appeared to be well-tolerated in stable HF patients over a
range of plasma concentrations during continuous intravenous
administration during this clinical trial. In this trial, three serious
adverse events (SAEs) were reported, only one of which was deemed related
to CK-1827452. These SAEs included a non-ST elevation myocardial
infarction in the setting of a drug overdose, septicemia in the setting
of a diabetic foot ulcer, and pneumonia. For the patients that were
tolerant of all study drug infusions, no consistent pattern of adverse
events with either dose or duration of infusion emerged. In all, five
patients were discontinued from the trial; two of these patients had
signs and symptoms associated with clinical intolerance due to excessive
concentrations of CK-1827452 and one patient with severe hypertension had
an asymptomatic increase in troponin levels following completion of the
CK-1827452 infusion. Troponin I levels in excess of upper diagnostic
limit did not otherwise occur except in these three patients. The authors
concluded that these findings support further study in a larger patient
population, and translation of this novel and unique mechanism into
populations with more severe or acute heart failure.

"I am pleased to have the opportunity to present these data at the Annual
Scientific Sessions of the American College of Cardiology. This rigorously
conducted Phase IIa clinical trial of CK-1827452 in stable heart failure
patients has generated exciting results that underscore the potential for
this novel mechanistic approach to the treatment of heart failure
patients," stated Dr. Senior. "These important data are suggestive of a
clinical benefit for heart failure patients with compromised systolic
performance and may offer promise for heightened cardiac efficiency and
reverse remodeling in the chronic care setting."

"We are pleased with these data from this key Phase IIa clinical trial
evaluating CK-1827452 in stable heart failure patients. These results
support our scientific hypotheses for this novel drug candidate in this
complex disease population," stated Andrew A. Wolff, MD, FACC,
Cytokinetics' Senior Vice President of Clinical Research and Development
and Chief Medical Officer. "We believe this clinical trial, together with
our other clinical trials conducted with CK-1827452, has established a
solid basis for our advancement to the next stage of clinical
development."

Cytokinetics Conference Call and Webcast

Cytokinetics plans to host a conference call and webcast on Monday, March
30th from 8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results from
this Phase IIa clinical trial. Robert Blum, Cytokinetics' President and
Chief Executive Officer, will be joined by Andrew Wolff, MD, FACC,
Cytokinetics' Senior Vice President of Clinical Research and Development
and Chief Medical Officer, Fady Malik, MD, PhD, FACC, Cytokinetics' Vice
President of Biology and Therapeutics and John R. Teerlink, MD, FACC,
FAHA, FESC, Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San
Francisco and the Director of Heart Failure at the San Francisco Veterans
Affairs Medical Center, in a discussion of the data. Mr. Blum will
moderate the session. Dr. Wolff will review the Phase IIa clinical trial
design and results and plans for the future clinical development of
CK-1827452, with Drs. Malik and Teerlink offering additional perspectives
on the clinical relevance of these data and the potential of CK-1827452
for the treatment of heart failure patients.

The conference call and accompanying slides will be simultaneously webcast
and can be accessed in the Investor Relations section of Cytokinetics'
website at www.cytokinetics.com. The live audio of the conference call is
also accessible via telephone to investors, members of the news media and
the general public by dialing either (866) 999-CYTK (2985) (United States
and Canada) or (706) 679-3078 (International) and typing in the passcode
91861227.

An archived replay of the webcast will be available via Cytokinetics'
website until April 13, 2009. The replay will also be available via
telephone by dialing (800) 642-1687 (United States and Canada) or (706)
645-9291 (International) and typing in the passcode 91861227 from March
30, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time until April 13, 2009.

Development Status of CK-1827452

CK-1827452 is currently the subject of a clinical trials program comprised
of multiple Phase I and Phase IIa trials. This program is designed to
evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic
profile of both intravenous and oral formulations of CK-1827452 for the
potential treatment of heart failure across the continuum of care, in both
hospital and outpatient settings. To date, two Phase IIa clinical trials
have been conducted with CK-1827452, while a third clinical trial is
ongoing. The first clinical trial was the above-referenced Phase IIa
clinical trial of CK-1827452 in patients with stable heart failure. The
second clinical trial was a Phase IIa trial that was designed to evaluate
an intravenous formulation together with an oral formulation of CK-1827452
in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy and angina, for which top-line
results were announced in December 2008. The third clinical trial is an
open-label Phase IIa clinical trial that is designed to evaluate an
intravenous formulation of CK-1827452 in patients with stable heart
failure undergoing clinically indicated coronary angiography in the
cardiac catheterization laboratory.

In addition, Cytokinetics has conducted five Phase I clinical trials of
CK-1827452 in healthy subjects: a first-time-in-humans study evaluating an
intravenous formulation, an oral bioavailability study evaluating both
intravenous and oral formulations, and three studies of oral formulations:
a drug-drug interaction study, a dose proportionality study and a study
evaluating modified-release formulations. Data from each of these trials
have been reported previously.

About Cytokinetics

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. Cytokinetics' cardiac muscle contractility program
is focused on cardiac muscle myosin, a motor protein essential to cardiac
muscle contraction. Cytokinetics' lead compound from this program,
CK-1827452, a novel small molecule cardiac muscle myosin activator, is in
Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of heart failure. Amgen Inc.
has obtained an option for an exclusive license to develop and
commercialize CK-1827452, subject to Cytokinetics' development and
commercialization participation rights. In April 2008, Cytokinetics
announced the selection of a potential drug candidate, CK-2017357,
directed towards skeletal muscle contractility which may be developed as
a potential treatment for diseases and medical conditions associated with
skeletal muscle weakness. In January 2009, Cytokinetics announced the
selection of a potential drug candidate directed towards smooth muscle
contractility which may be developed as a potential treatment for
diseases associated with pulmonary arterial hypertension and
bronchoconstriction.

Cytokinetics' cancer program is focused on mitotic kinesins, a family of
motor proteins essential to cell division. Cytokinetics is developing two
drug candidates that have arisen from this program, ispinesib and
SB-743921, each an inhibitor of kinesin spindle protein. In addition,
Cytokinetics and GlaxoSmithKline are conducting research and development
activities focused on GSK-923295, an inhibitor of centromere-associated
protein E.

All of these drug candidates and potential drug candidates have arisen
from Cytokinetics' research activities and are directed towards the
cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton is a complex biological infrastructure that
plays a fundamental role within every human cell. Additional information
about Cytokinetics can be obtained at www.cytokinetics.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements for purposes of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"). Cytokinetics
disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking
statements, and claims the protection of the Act's safe harbor for
forward-looking statements. Examples of such statements include, but are
not limited to, statements relating to Cytokinetics' and its partners'
research and development programs, including the initiation, design,
enrollment, conduct and results of clinical trials relating to CK-1827452
and the significance of such results, including CK-1827452's potential for
reverse remodeling; planned presentations relating to the results from
Cytokinetics' clinical trials with CK-1827452; and the properties and
potential benefits of CK-1827452 and Cytokinetics' other drug candidates
and potential drug candidates. Such statements are based on management's
current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to
various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, potential
difficulties or delays in the development, testing, regulatory approvals
for trial commencement, progression or product sale or manufacturing, or
production of CK-1827452 or Cytokinetics' other drug candidates that could
slow or prevent clinical development or product approval, including risks
that current and past results of clinical trials or preclinical studies
may not be indicative of future clinical trials results, patient
enrollment for or conduct of clinical trials may be difficult or delayed,
including without limitation, due to political instability in countries
where clinical trials of CK-1827452 or Cytokinetics' other drug
candidates are being conducted, CK-1827452 or Cytokinetics' other drug
candidates may have adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic
efficacy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or foreign regulatory
agencies may delay or limit Cytokinetics' or its partners' ability to
conduct clinical trials, and Cytokinetics may be unable to obtain or
maintain patent or trade secret protection for its intellectual property;
Amgen may elect not to exercise its option with respect to CK-1827452;
Cytokinetics may incur unanticipated research and development and other
costs or be unable to obtain additional financing necessary to conduct
development of its products; standards of care may change rendering
CK-1827452 and Cytokinetics' other drug candidates obsolete; others may
introduce products or alternative therapies for the treatment of
indications Cytokinetics' drug candidates and potential drug candidates
may target; and risks and uncertainties relating to the timing and
receipt of payments from its partners, including option fees, milestones
and royalties on future potential product sales under Cytokinetics'
collaboration agreements with such partners. For further information
regarding these and other risks related to Cytokinetics' business,
investors should consult Cytokinetics' filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

Contact:
Christopher S. Keenan
Director, Investor and Media Relations
(650) 624-3000

Copyright 2009, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

-0-