How One Drug Developer Is Addressing Health Inequities

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a rare, genetic heart condition that has a disproportionate impact on people in the Black community because of socio-economic and access issues. Cytonkinetics' experimental therapy aficamten is in late-stage development to treat the condition, but it also reflects a long-term focus of the company to address health inequities. We spoke to Robert Blum, CEO of Cytokinetics, about hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, how the company has worked to build relationships in the black community to expand participation in clinical trials, and how it is thinking ahead to issues of access and affordability as it advances the drug towards the market.