<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><edgarSubmission xmlns="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/ownership" xmlns:ns2="http://www.sec.gov/edgar/common">
    <headerData>
        <submissionType>144</submissionType>
        <filerInfo>
            <filer>
                <filerCredentials>
                    <cik>0001551778</cik>
                    <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
                </filerCredentials>
            </filer>
            <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



        </filerInfo>
    </headerData>
    <formData>
        <issuerInfo>
            <issuerCik>0001061983</issuerCik>
            <issuerName>CYTOKINETICS INC</issuerName>
            <secFileNumber>000-50633</secFileNumber>
            <issuerAddress>
                <ns2:street1>350 OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD</ns2:street1>
                <ns2:city>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</ns2:city>
                <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
            </issuerAddress>
            <issuerContactPhone>6506243000</issuerContactPhone>
            <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>FADY MALIK</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
            <relationshipsToIssuer>
                <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
            </relationshipsToIssuer>
        </issuerInfo>
        <securitiesInformation>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
                <name>Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC Executive Financial Services</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>1 New York Plaza</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:street2>8th Floor</ns2:street2>
                    <ns2:city>New York</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>NY</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>10004</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
            <noOfUnitsSold>11000</noOfUnitsSold>
            <aggregateMarketValue>652850.00</aggregateMarketValue>
            <noOfUnitsOutstanding>119657156</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
            <approxSaleDate>10/21/2025</approxSaleDate>
            <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
        </securitiesInformation>
        <securitiesToBeSold>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <acquiredDate>10/21/2025</acquiredDate>
            <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Exercise of Stock Options</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
            <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
            <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
            <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>11000</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
            <paymentDate>10/21/2025</paymentDate>
            <natureOfPayment>Cash</natureOfPayment>
        </securitiesToBeSold>
        <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for FADY MALIK</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>350 OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>10/07/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>121120.00</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for FADY MALIK</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>350 OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/23/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>98554.80</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for FADY MALIK</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>350 OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>09/09/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>102573.60</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for FADY MALIK</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>350 OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>08/19/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>76627.00</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for FADY MALIK</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>350 OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>08/05/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>72680.00</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
            <sellerDetails>
                <name>10b5-1 Sales for FADY MALIK</name>
                <address>
                    <ns2:street1>350 OYSTER POINT BOULEVARD</ns2:street1>
                    <ns2:city>SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO</ns2:city>
                    <ns2:stateOrCountry>CA</ns2:stateOrCountry>
                    <ns2:zipCode>94080</ns2:zipCode>
                </address>
            </sellerDetails>
            <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
            <saleDate>07/22/2025</saleDate>
            <amountOfSecuritiesSold>2000</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
            <grossProceeds>74931.60</grossProceeds>
        </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
        <remarks>The securities to be sold were and will be received upon the exercise of stock options over the next three months. The dates of acquisition and payment were and will be the dates of exercise/sale.&#13;
</remarks>
        <noticeSignature>
            <noticeDate>10/21/2025</noticeDate>
            <planAdoptionDates>
                <planAdoptionDate>09/16/2024</planAdoptionDate>
            </planAdoptionDates>
            <signature>/s/ Fady Malik</signature>
        </noticeSignature>
    </formData>
</edgarSubmission>
