Omecamtiv mecarbil activates ryanodine receptors from canine cardiac but not skeletal muscle

Omecamtiv Mecarbil in the treatment of heart failure: the past, the present, and the future

Heart failure, a prevailing global health issue, imposes a substantial burden on both healthcare systems and patients worldwide. With an escalating prevalence of heart failure, prolonged survival rates, and an aging demographic, an increasing number of individuals are progressing to more advanced phases of this incapacitating ailment. Against this backdrop, the quest for pharmacological agents capable of addressing the diverse subtypes of heart failure becomes a paramount pursuit. From this viewpoint, the present article focuses on Omecamtiv Mecarbil (OM), an emerging chemical compound said to exert inotropic effects without altering calcium homeostasis. For the first time, as a review, the present article uniquely started from the very basic pathophysiology of heart failure, its classification, and the strategies underpinning drug design, to on-going debates of OM's underlying mechanism of action and the latest large-scale clinical trials. Furthermore, we not only saw the advantages of OM, but also exhaustively summarized the concerns in sense of its effects. These of no doubt make the present article the most systemic and informative one among the existing literature. Overall, by offering new mechanistic insights and therapeutic possibilities, OM has carved a significant niche in the treatment of heart failure, making it a compelling subject of study.

Altered Left Ventricular Rat Gene Expression Induced by the Myosin Activator Omecamtiv Mecarbil

To explore the impact of omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) on the gene expression profile in adult male rats. Fourteen male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to a single OM (1.2 mg/kg/h; n = 6) or placebo (n = 8) 30-min infusion. Echocardiography was performed before and after OM infusion. Seven days after infusion, rats were euthanized, and left ventricular (LV) tissues were removed for real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTq-PCR) experiments. After OM infusion, pro-apoptotic Bax-to-Bcl2 ratio was decreased, with increased Bcl2 and similar Bax gene expression. The gene expression of molecules regulating oxidative stress, including glutathione disulfide reductase (Gsr) and superoxide dismutases (Sod1/Sod2), remained unchanged, whereas the expression of antioxidant glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) increased. While LV gene expression of key energy sensors, peroxisome proliferator activator (Ppar) α and γ, AMP-activated protein kinase (Ampk), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (Cpt1) remained unchanged after OM infusion, and the expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (Pdk4) increased. The LV expression of the major myocardial glucose transporter Glut1 decreased, with no changes in Glut4 expression, whereas the LV expression of oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 (Olr1) and arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase (Alox15) increased, with no changes in fatty acid transporter Cd36. An increased LV expression of angiotensin II receptors AT1 and AT2 was observed, with no changes in angiotensin I-converting enzyme expression. The Kalikrein-bradykinin system was upregulated with increased LV expression of kallikrein-related peptidases Klk8, Klk1c2, and Klk1c12 and bradykinin receptors B1 and B2 (Bdkrb1 and Bdkrb2), whereas the LV expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 (Nos2) increased. LV expression in major molecular determinants involved in calcium-dependent myocardial contraction remained unchanged, except for an increased LV expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II delta (Cacna1c) in response to OM. A single intravenous infusion of OM, in adult healthy rats, resulted in significant changes in the LV expression of genes regulating apoptosis, oxidative stress, metabolism, and cardiac contractility.

Omecamtiv mecarbil attenuates length-tension relationship in healthy rat myocardium and preserves it in monocrotaline-induced pulmonary heart failure

The cardiac-specific myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil (OM), is an effective inotrope for treating heart failure but its effects on active force and Ca²⁺ kinetics in healthy and diseased myocardium remain poorly studied. We tested the effect of two concentrations of OM (0.2 and 1 µmol/L in saline) on isometric contraction and Ca-transient (CaT) in right ventricular trabeculae of healthy rats (CONT, n = 8) and rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary heart failure (MCT, n = 8). The contractions were obtained under preload of 75%-100% of optimal length (tension-length relationship). The 0.2 µmol/L OM did not affect the diastolic level, amplitude, or kinetics of isometric contraction and CaT, irrespective of the group of rats or preload. The 1 µmol/L OM significantly suppressed active tension-length relationships in CONT but not in MCT, while leading in both groups to a significantly prolonged relaxation. CaT time-to-peak was unaffected in CONT and MCT, but CaT decay was slightly accelerated in its early phase and considerably prolonged in its late phase to a similar extent in both groups. We conclude that the substantial prolongation of CaT decay is due to enhanced Ca²⁺ utilisation by troponin C mediated by the direct effect of OM on the cooperative activation of myofilaments. The lack of beneficial effect of OM in the healthy rat myocardium may be due to a relatively high level of activating Ca²⁺ in cells with normal Ca²⁺ handling, whereas the preservation of the tension-length relationship in the failing heart may relate to the diminished Ca²⁺ levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Omecamtiv mecarbil evokes diastolic dysfunction and leads to periodic electromechanical alternans

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a promising novel drug for improving cardiac contractility. We tested the therapeutic range of OM and identified previously unrecognized side effects. The Ca2+ sensitivity of isometric force production (pCa50) and force at low Ca2+ levels increased with OM concentration in human permeabilized cardiomyocytes. OM (1 µM) slowed the kinetics of contractions and relaxations and evoked an oscillation between normal and reduced intracellular Ca2+ transients, action potential lengths and contractions in isolated canine cardiomyocytes. Echocardiographic studies and left ventricular pressure-volume analyses demonstrated concentration-dependent improvements in cardiac systolic function at OM concentrations of 600-1200 µg/kg in rats. Administration of OM at a concentration of 1200 µg/kg was associated with hypotension, while doses of 600-1200 µg/kg were associated with the following aspects of diastolic dysfunction: decreases in E/A ratio and the maximal rate of diastolic pressure decrement (dP/dtmin) and increases in isovolumic relaxation time, left atrial diameter, the isovolumic relaxation constant Tau, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure and the slope of the end-diastolic pressure-volume relationship. Moreover, OM 1200 µg/kg frequently evoked transient electromechanical alternans in the rat in vivo in which normal systoles were followed by smaller contractions (and T-wave amplitudes) without major differences on the QRS complexes. Besides improving systolic function, OM evoked diastolic dysfunction and pulsus alternans. The narrow therapeutic window for OM may necessitate the monitoring of additional clinical safety parameters in clinical application.

The energy-saving effect of a new myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, on LV mechanoenergetics in rat hearts with blood-perfused isovolumic contraction model

A novel myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil (OM), is a cardiac inotropic agent with a unique new mechanism of action, which is thought to arise from an increase in the transition rate of myosin into the actin-bound force-generating state without increasing calcium (Ca²⁺) transient. There remains, however, considerable controversy about the effects of OM on cardiac contractility and energy expenditure. In the present study, we investigated the effects of OM on left ventricular (LV) mechanical work and energetics, i.e., mechanoenergetics in rat normal hearts (CTL) and failing hearts induced by chronic administration of isoproterenol (1.2 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks (ISO-HF). We analyzed the LV end-systolic pressure-volume relation (ESPVR) and the linear relation between the myocardial oxygen consumption per beat (VO₂) and systolic pressure-volume area (PVA; a total mechanical energy per beat) in isovolumically contracting rat hearts at 240- or 300-bpm pacing in the absence or presence of OM. OM did not change the ESPVR in CTL and ISO-HF. OM, however, significantly decreased the slope of VO₂-PVA relationship in both CTL and ISO-HF, and significantly increased the mean VO₂ intercept without changes in basal metabolism in ISO-HF. These results suggested that OM improved the oxygen cost of PVA (contractile efficiency) with the unchanged LV contractility in both CTL and ISO-HF but increased VO₂ for Ca²⁺ handling in excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in ISO-HF. We concluded that OM improves contractile efficiency in normal and failing hearts but increases O₂ consumption of Ca²⁺ handling in failing hearts in isovolumically contracting rat model.

Shock - Classification and Pathophysiological Principles of Therapeutics

The management of patients with shock is extremely challenging because of the myriad of possible clinical presentations in cardiogenic shock, septic shock and hypovolemic shock and the limitations of contemporary therapeutic options. The treatment of shock includes the administration of endogenous catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) as well as various vasopressor agents that have shown efficacy in the treatment of the various types of shock. In addition to the endogenous catecholamines, dobutamine, isoproterenol, phenylephrine, and milrinone have served as the mainstays of shock therapy for several decades. Recently, experimental studies have suggested that newer agents such as vasopressin, selepressin, calcium-sensitizing agents like levosimendan, cardiac-specific myosin activators like omecamtiv mecarbil (OM), istaroxime, and natriuretic peptides like nesiritide can enhance shock therapy, especially when shock presents a more complex clinical picture than normal. However, their ability to improve clinical outcomes remains to be proven. It is the purpose of this review to describe the mechanism of action, dosage requirements, advantages and disadvantages, and specific indications and contraindications for the use of each of these catecholamines and vasopressors, as well as to elucidate the most important clinical trials that serve as the basis of contemporary shock therapy.

Perspectives of a myosin motor activator agent with increased selectivity

Clinical treatment of heart failure is still not fully solved. A novel class of agents, the myosin motor activators, acts directly on cardiac myosin resulting in an increased force generation and prolongation of contraction. Omecamtiv mecarbil, the lead molecule of this group, is now in human phase 3 displaying promising clinical performance. However, omecamtiv mecarbil is not selective to myosin, because it readily binds to and activates cardiac ryanodine receptors (RyR-2), an effect that may cause complications in case of overdose. In this study, in silico analysis was performed to investigate the docking of omecamtiv mecarbil and other structural analogues to cardiac myosin heavy chain and RyR-2 to select the structure that has a higher selectivity to myosin over RyR-2. In silico docking studies revealed that omecamtiv mecarbil has comparable affinity to myosin and RyR-2: the respective K_d values are 0.60 and 0.87 μmol/L. Another compound, CK-1032100, has much lower affinity to RyR-2 than omecamtiv mecarbil, while it still has a moderate affinity to myosin. It was concluded that further research starting from the chemical structure of CK-1032100 may result a better myosin activator burdened probably less by the RyR-2 binding side effect. It also is possible, however, that the selectivity of omecamtiv mecarbil to myosin over RyR-2 cannot be substantially improved, because similar moieties seem to be responsible for the high affinity to both myosin and RyR-2.

Effects of the cardiac myosin activator Omecamtiv-mecarbil on severe chronic aortic regurgitation in Wistar rats

Background

Aortic regurgitation (AR) is a valvular disease that can lead to systolic heart failure. Treatment options besides cardiac surgery are limited and consequently severe AR is associated with higher mortality and morbidity when not operated. In this investigation, we examined the effects of a novel cardiac myosin activator, Omecamtiv-mecarbil (OM), in rats with chronic severe AR.

Methods

AR was created by retrograde puncture of the aortic valve leaflets in 20 adults Wistar rats. 12 animals survived the acute AR phase and were randomized 2 months thereafter into OM (n = 7) or placebo groups (n = 5). Two rats underwent a sham operation and served as controls. Equal volumes of OM or placebo (NaCl 0.9%) were perfused in the femoral vein by continuous infusion (1.2 mg/kg/hour) during 30 min. Doppler-echocardiography was performed before and at the end of the infusion periods.

Results

OM increased indices of global cardiac function (cardiac output, stroke volume), and increased systolic performance (fractional shortening, ejection fraction, left ventricular end systolic diameter) (all p < 0.05). These effects concurred with decreases in indices of LV preload (left atrial size, left ventricular end diastolic diameter) as well in the aortic pre-ejection period / left ventricular ejection time ratio (all p < 0.05). The severity score of the regurgitant AR jet did not change. Placebo infusion did not affect these parameters.

Conclusion

The cardiac myosin activator OM exerts favorable hemodynamic effects in rats with experimental chronic AR.