CK-1909178

CK-1909178 is a small molecule fast skeletal muscle troponin activator (FSTA) developed by Cytokinetics. It is designed to increase skeletal muscle force in response to submaximal nerve stimulation by slowing the rate of calcium release from the troponin complex in fast-twitch muscle fibers. This mechanism sensitizes the sarcomere to calcium, shifting the force-calcium relationship to the left and increasing muscle force production at submaximal frequencies of nerve stimulation. Preclinical studies have investigated its potential in treating neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis and other disorders involving muscle weakness and fatigue. CK-1909178 served as an early lead compound in the Cytokinetics skeletal muscle program, which eventually prioritized other candidates like reldesemtiv for clinical development.