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The Christ Hospital Health Network in Cincinnati has become the first site globally to participate in the AMBER-HFpEF trial. This phase 2 clinical trial is assessing the novel drug CK-586 for patients with symptomatic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). HFpEF accounts for approximately half of all heart failure cases and is marked by significant heart stiffness and a lack of relaxation, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue from minimal activity, swelling in the legs, ankles or feet, chest discomfort, and lightheadedness. The drug CK-586 aims to directly affect the heart muscle by reducing vigorous contractions and improving relaxation. The trial is conducted through the Carl and Edyth Lindner Research Center at The Christ Hospital with Cytokinetics as the sponsor. Participants will take an oral medication once daily for 26 weeks.
"Imagine every heartbeat is a bicep curl," said Ankit Bhatia, MD, FACC, Principal Investigator for the trial and Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist at The Christ Hospital. "Now picture a 20-pound weight added to every curl. That’s what patients suffering from HFpEF deal with every day." Dr. Bhatia explained that current treatments primarily involve diuretics but noted some patients cannot use these medications or find them insufficient in addressing symptoms. He expressed hope that this new medical approach could significantly improve treatment outcomes for HFpEF patients.
Dr. Bhatia further mentioned that they aim to reduce symptoms like shortness of breath and fluid accumulation while enhancing patients' quality of life through this trial which seeks to enroll an additional 60 participants nationwide.
“At The Christ Hospital we offer patients treatment options they can’t get anywhere else,” stated Dean Kereiakes, MD, FACC, MSCAI and Chairman of The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute. He praised Dr. Bhatia and his team at the Lindner Research Center for advancing therapy on an international level for this common yet debilitating disorder.
The Christ Hospital Health Network includes an acute care hospital in Mt. Auburn, a remote location in Liberty Township, eight outpatient centers, and numerous medical offices across the region. With over 1,300 physicians and 7,200 team members committed to providing exceptional healthcare outcomes affordably over its 135-year history, it was recognized by U.S News & World Report as Cincinnati's top hospital and featured on Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2025.
