Rowers in a coxless four paddle in the water

Diminished CONTRACTILITY
is at the heart of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)1

HFrEF results from weakened contractility, which may ultimately progress to worsening heart failure, with symptoms including fatigue and dyspnea.1

Heart muscle function is dependent on actin and myosin, the key contractile proteins of the sarcomere.2

The role of contractility in cardiac function

Watch this video to see how contractility plays an integral role in HFrEF, and how it might impact your future treatment strategies.

Decreased contractility can play a role in the progression of worsening heart failure

Most guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) mechanisms of action do not target contractility but, rather, the neurohormonal aspect of heart failure. Even with GDMT, HFrEF patients often experience worsening of function and symptoms. This highlights the continuous need to advance research for new therapeutic interventions.3-5

More than 75% of heart failure hospitalizations are due to worsening heart failure.6

The burden from HFrEF and worsening heart failure is multifaceted and impactful.3
Explore the burden
Even with periods of stabilization on treatment with GDMT, patients with worsening heart failure may still require additional treatment options.7,8

Novel MOAs may have the potential to offer something more than what is expected with current GDMT.

Evaluate HFrEF treatments

Some patients will respond less and less to GDMT, while the sustained neurohormonal activation drives the progression of HFrEF.7,9

Focusing on contractility may be promising.

Learn more about contractility

References: 1. Mann DL et al. In: Longo DL et al, eds. Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. 18th ed. McGraw‑Hill; 2012:1901‑1915. 2. Psotka MA et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73:2345-2353. 3. Butler J et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2019;73(8):935-944. 4. Fiuzat M et al. JACC. 2022;79(5):504-510. 5. He H et al. Circ Heart Fail. 2022;15(3):e009195. 6. Chang PP et al. Am J Cardiol. 2014;113(3):504-510. 7. Heidenreich PA et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(17):e2-e159. 8. Mallick A et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2016;4:749-755. 9. Hartupee et al. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2017;14(1):30-38.