Atlantic Health’s Morristown Medical Center is the first hospital in New Jersey to offer clinical study of aficamten to pediatric patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

MORRISTOWN N.J., July 24, 2024 – Atlantic Health’s Morristown Medical Center is the first hospital in New Jersey to offer pediatric patients access to a new clinical study, CEDAR-HCM (Clinical Evaluation of Dosing with Aficamten to Reduce Obstruction in a pediatric population in HCM). The study evaluates aficamten, a medication designed to reduce the hypercontractility associated with HCM and improve symptoms, in patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (oHCM).

oHCM is a genetic condition characterized by an overly forceful contraction of the heart muscle (hypercontractility) and an abnormal thickening and stiffening of the left ventricle, the heart's main pumping chamber. This thickening impairs the heart's ability to fill adequately with blood and can obstruct blood flow as it exits the heart, forcing the heart muscle to work harder than needed.

“We are incredibly proud to be able to offer our patients access to the CEDAR-HCM clinical trial," said Matthew W Martinez MD FACC, Director, Sports Cardiology, Director Chanin T. Mast Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center at Morristown Medical Center. "This study represents a significant advancement in the treatment of oHCM in the pediatric population and underscores our commitment to pioneering high-quality health care and research to provide our patients with access to the latest developments in medicine.”

CEDAR-HCM is a multi-center clinical trial evaluating the effectiveness, safety, and pharmacokinetics (PK) of aficamten in the pediatric population with oHCM. The trial is randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and includes an open-label extension. It will run a total of 78 weeks, and it involves screening, treatment periods, and follow-up phases to evaluate the effects of this next-in-class cardiac myosin inhibitor. The Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Medical Center’s Chanin T. Mast Center for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is the only program in the State of New Jersey.

About Research at Atlantic Health

Atlantic Health is building healthier communities through groundbreaking research.

Advancing the science behind Atlantic Health’s award-winning network of care is the Atlantic Center for Research (ACR). The ACR is the hub for cutting-edge, patient centered, translational and clinical research, with the potential to directly impact patient outcomes and shape the future of personalized care. The ACR research portfolio includes industry and federally sponsored clinical research in a range of medical conditions including cancer, heart disease and complex neurological conditions.

The ACR pairs extraordinary talent with vast resources. Leading physicians have access to a robust research infrastructure including state of the art laboratories and a biospecimen bank. Results are shared with the world through publication in national journals, conferences and through the ACR’s annual Research Symposium. 

About Atlantic Health

Atlantic Health is at the forefront of medicine, setting standards for quality health care in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the New York metropolitan area. Powered by a workforce of 20,000 team members and 5,440 affiliated physicians dedicated to building healthier communities, Atlantic Health serves more than half of the state of New Jersey including 14 counties and 7.5 million people. The not-for-profit system offers more than 550 sites of care, including its seven hospitals: Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ, Overlook Medical Center in Summit, NJ, Newton Medical Center in Newton, NJ, Chilton Medical Center in Pompton Plains, NJ, Hackettstown Medical Center in Hackettstown, NJ, Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown, NJ, Atlantic Rehabilitation Institute in Madison, NJ and through its partnership with CentraState Healthcare System in Freehold, NJ.

The system includes Atlantic Medical Group, part of a physician enterprise that makes up one of the largest multispecialty practices in New Jersey with more than 1,600 physicians and advance practice providers. Joined with Atlantic Accountable Care Organization and Optimus Healthcare Partners they form part of Atlantic Alliance, a Clinically Integrated Network of more than 2,500 health care providers throughout northern and central NJ.

Atlantic Health provides care for the full continuum of health care needs through 24 urgent care centers, Atlantic Visiting Nurse and Atlantic Anywhere Virtual Visits. Facilitating the connection between these services on both land and air is the transportation fleet of Atlantic Mobile Health.Atlantic Health leads the Healthcare Transformation Consortium, a partnership of six regional hospitals and health systems dedicated to improving access and affordability and is a founding member of the PIER Consortium – Partners in Innovation, Education, and Research – a streamlined clinical trial system that will expand access to groundbreaking research across five health systems in the region.

Atlantic Health has a medical school affiliation with Thomas Jefferson University and is home to the regional campus of the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Morristown and Overlook Medical Centers and is the official health care partner of the New York Jets.