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Hypertrophic CardiomyopathyOctober 2023

What the VALOR-HCM Trial Found — Mavacamten Avoiding Septal Reduction Surgery

VALOR-HCM tested whether mavacamten could keep severely symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients out of septal reduction surgery. At 56 weeks, only 9% on long-term mavacamten still met criteria for surgery.

What the trial was testing

The VALOR-HCM enrolled 112 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The study was sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

It was a large trial designed to confirm whether the treatment works well enough for wider use. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.

What the results showed

93% of patients no longer needed surgery after long-term mavacamten.

JAMA Cardiology · 2023 · NCT04349072

These findings — that for septal reduction at 56 weeks on long-term mavacamten in severe HCM — were published in the JAMA Cardiology and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 112 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

Mavacamten (Camzyos) is FDA-approved and available now and can reduce the need for septal reduction surgery in severely symptomatic obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Regular echocardiograms are required because it can lower heart pumping in some patients. Ask a cardiologist familiar with HCM about access.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.