Kura Oncology

Kura Oncology

Clinical-stage oncology company develops targeted therapies

Overview

Kura Oncology develops precision medicines for cancer, focusing on small-molecule drugs that target tumors with specific genetic mutations. It is in the clinical-stage, researching and developing its own drug candidates to eventually bring them to market. Its leading candidate, ziftomenib, blocks the menin-KMT2A/MLL protein interaction, offering a targeted approach for genetically defined acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The company is also pursuing tipifarnib for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and other solid tumors. By collaborating with academic institutions and other biotech companies, Kura Oncology expands its pipeline and advances therapies through clinical trials. The goal is to deliver effective, targeted cancer treatments for patients with unmet medical needs and to grow its portfolio through research, development, and partnerships.

About Kura Oncology

Simplify's Rating
Why Kura Oncology is rated
C+
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated D+ on Differentiation

Industries

Biotechnology

Healthcare

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

IPO

Headquarters

San Diego, California

Founded

2014

People at Kura Oncology

People at Kura Oncology who can refer or advise you

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • $5.8M Q1 2026 KOMZIFTI revenue with 85 new starts validates rapid market adoption.
  • $135M milestones from Kyowa Kirin and $580.8M cash fund operations through Phase 3 in 2028.
  • Frontline Phase 3 KOMET-017 trial dosed first patient in 2025, enabling potential 2028 FDA acceleration.

What critics are saying

  • Syndax revumenib penetrates NPM1-m market via mechanistic overlap; 35–50% Q2 loss in 6–12 months.
  • KOMET-017 2028 data may fail to displace venetoclax/azacitidine; 40–60% failure risk in 12–18 months.
  • Kyowa Kirin $180M dependency collapses if KOMET-017 fails; 50–70% existential cash shortfall by 2027.

What makes Kura Oncology unique

  • KOMZIFTI is FDA-approved for relapsed/refractory NPM1-m AML as the first menin inhibitor.
  • Kura runs only menin inhibitor program with Phase 3 trials in both intensive and non-intensive chemo.
  • 96% CRc and 83% MRD negativity in frontline NPM1-m AML outperforms existing standards by 2026.

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Funding

Total Funding

$1.2B

Above

Industry Average

Funded Over

10 Rounds

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Paid Vacation

Paid Holidays

Paid Paternity/Maternity Leave

Home Office Stipend

Lifestyle Spending Stipend

Commuter Stipend

Wellness Program

Gym Membership

Company Social Events

Stock Price

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

0%

1 year growth

3%

2 year growth

2%
Kyowa Kirin
May 13th, 2026
Kura Oncology and Kyowa Kirin to Present Updated Frontline Ziftomenib / 7+3 Combination Data at EHA 2026 Congress - Oral presentation to feature 99-patient dataset with extended follow-up in newly ...

Kura Oncology and Kyowa Kirin to Present Updated Frontline Ziftomenib / 7+3 Combination Data at EHA 2026 Congress - Oral presentation to feature 99-patient dataset with extended follow-up in newly diagnosed NPM1-m or KMT2A-r AML - - High CRc rates (90-96%) with deep MRD negativity (> 80%) across both subtypes - - Durable responses with median duration of CRc not reached in NPM1-m patients at ~15 months median follow-up - - Phase 3 KOMET-017 trial currently enrolling with potential for accelerated FDA review in 2028 -. May 13, 2026 SAN DIEGO and TOKYO, May 12 and 13, 2026 - Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA) and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4151, "Kyowa Kirin") today announced that updated results from the frontline arm of the Phase 1 KOMET-007 (NCT05735184) clinical trial evaluating ziftomenib in combination with cytarabine plus daunorubicin (7+3) in patients with newly diagnosed NPM1-mutant (NPM1-m) or KMT2A-rearranged (KMT2A-r) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been accepted for an oral presentation on Sunday, June 14, 2026, at the upcoming 2026 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress in Stockholm, Sweden. The oral presentation will highlight updated results in 99 patients with newly diagnosed NPM1-m or KMT2A-r AML treated with ziftomenib 600 mg once daily in combination with 7+3. These results represent one of the largest datasets reported to date for the evaluation of a menin inhibitor in combination with intensive chemotherapy in frontline AML. As of the abstract data cut-off on January 16, 2026: * High response rates across both molecular subtypes * Composite complete response (CRc) rates of 96% (47/49) for NPM1-m and 90% (45/50) for KMT2A-r AML * Deep molecular responses * Measurable residual disease (MRD)-negativity rates among CRc responders of 83% (39/47) for NPM1-m and 82% (32/39) for KMT2A-r AML * Encouraging durability with extended follow-up * Median follow-up of 14.9 months (NPM1-m) and 9.3 months (KMT2A-r) * Median duration of CRc not reached (NPM1-m) and 11.2 months (KMT2A-r) * Consistent and manageable safety profile * Safety profile consistent across the NPM1-m and KMT2A-r groups with no new safety signals observed with long-term treatment * Updated analyses with longer median follow-up, central MRD assessment, durability outcomes, and deeper characterization of safety and hematologic recovery will be included at the time of the oral presentation "With nearly 100 patients treated as well as extended follow-up, ziftomenib in combination with 7+3 continues to demonstrate consistently high response rates, deep MRD negativity, and encouraging durability across genetically defined AML subsets," said Mollie Leoni, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Kura Oncology. "These data support our belief ziftomenib has potential to serve as a foundational backbone for frontline AML therapy, and we are advancing this regimen in our ongoing Phase 3 registrational program." In addition to the oral presentation, abstracts for the KOMET-007 and KOMET-017 trials have been accepted for a poster presentation and online publication, respectively. Details are provided below and are available on the EHAweb.org website. * EHA 2026 Presentation Details - * Title: Ziftomenib combined with intensive induction (7+3) for newly diagnosed NPM1-m or KMT2A-r acute myeloid leukemia (AML): Long-term results from the KOMET-007 trial * Session: s446 Novel treatments in AML * Date and Time: Sunday, June 14; 11:00-12:15 CEST * Location: Nobel Hall * Publication Number: S130 - * Title: Exposure-response analysis of ziftomenib combined with venetoclax/azacitidine or cytarabine/daunorubicin in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory NPM1-m or KMT2A-r acute myeloid leukemia * Session: Poster Session 1 * Date and Time: Friday, June 12; 18:45-19:45 CEST * Location: Poster Hall * Publication Number: PF537 - * Title: Registrational Phase 3 studies of ziftomenib in combination with nonintensive or intensive chemotherapy for newly diagnosed NPM1-m or KMT2A-r acute myeloid leukemia (AML): The KOMET-017 trial * Location: Online Publication * Date and Time: Tuesday, May 12; 9:30 AM ET/15:30 CEST * Publication Number: PB2766 Copies of the presentations will be available on Kura's website at www.kuraoncology.com/pipeline/publications following presentation at the meeting. * About Ziftomenib - Ziftomenib (marketed as KOMZIFTI(TM) in the U.S.) is a once-daily, oral menin inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for adult patients with relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a susceptible NPM1 mutation who have no satisfactory alternative treatment options. Ziftomenib is being studied across the AML treatment continuum, including in combination studies in newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutated AML, KMT2A-rearranged AML, and FLT3-mutated AML. Ziftomenib is also being explored in additional oncology indications, including advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors. * About Kura Oncology - Kura Oncology is a biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. Kura's pipeline of small molecule drug candidates is designed to target cancer signaling pathways and address high-need hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Kura developed and is commercializing KOMZIFTI(TM)(ziftomenib), the FDA-approved once-daily, oral menin inhibitor for the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia, and continues to pioneer advancements in menin inhibition and farnesyl transferase inhibition. For additional information, please visit the Kura website at https://kuraoncology.com/ and follow Kyowa Kirin International on X and LinkedIn. * About Kyowa Kirin - Kyowa Kirin aims to discover and deliver novel medicines and treatments with life-changing value. As a Japan-based Global Specialty Pharmaceutical Company, Kyowa Kirin has invested in drug discovery and biotechnology innovation for more than 70 years and is currently working to engineer the next generation of antibodies and cell and gene therapies with the potential to help patients with high unmet medical needs, such as bone & mineral, intractable hematological diseases/hemato-oncology and rare diseases. A shared commitment to Kyowa Kirin's values, to sustainable growth, and to making people smile unites Kyowa Kirin across the globe. You can learn more about the business of Kyowa Kirin at www.kyowakirin.com.

Yahoo Finance
Mar 6th, 2026
Kura Oncology's Komzifti generates $2.1M in first weeks, triggers $135M milestone

Kura Oncology launched Komzifti, generating $2.1 million in net product revenue in late 2025. The company achieved rapid market access with payers covering most private and insured lives pre-approval, supported by an NCCN Category 2A listing and its KuraConnect programme. The company is advancing ziftomenib through the registrational KOMET-017 programme for earlier-stage AML treatment and developing multiple combinations with venetoclax and FLT3 inhibitors. Key data updates are expected in the first half of 2026. The first commercial sale triggered a $135 million milestone payment. Kura ended 2025 with $667.2 million in cash, which management says will fund the ziftomenib programme through anticipated phase 3 results, despite a fourth-quarter net loss of $81 million.

Yahoo Finance
Mar 5th, 2026
Kura Oncology's Comzifty generates $2.1M in first product revenue, triggers $135M milestone payment

Kura Oncology reported its first product revenue of $2.1 million from Comzifty in late 2025, marking its transition to a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company. The company secured $135 million in milestone payments from Kyowa Kirin following the first commercial sale. Comzifty achieved 84% private payer coverage within 90 days of launch and received NCCN Category 2A recommendation within one week of submission. The company secured patent protection through July 2044. Management is pursuing a "first-to-frontline" strategy, targeting the $350 million to $400 million relapsed/refractory NPM1 market as an entry point to the broader $7 billion US AML opportunity. Pivotal COMET-017 frontline trial data readouts are expected to support potential accelerated FDA approvals, with current cash reserves funding operations through Phase 3 results in 2028.

Yahoo Finance
Mar 5th, 2026
Kura Oncology reports $667M cash position to support AML drug development to Phase 3

Kura Oncology has reported early commercial momentum for KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib), its once-daily oral menin inhibitor for relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukaemia with NPM1 mutations. The drug generated $2.1 million in net revenue during the fourth quarter of 2025, based on approximately five weeks of sales following FDA approval on 13 November. The company achieved approximately 80% private payer coverage within 90 days of launch, with policies aligned to the label without additional restrictions. FDA Orange Book patent listings extend to 2044, supporting long-term market exclusivity. Kura reported $667.2 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments, with an additional $180 million in anticipated collaboration payments, including a $135 million milestone from Kyowa Kirin. The company expects multiple clinical data milestones in 2026 across its AML and solid tumour programmes.

Stock Titan
Dec 2nd, 2025
Kura Oncology receives $135M milestone payment from Kyowa Kirin after first US sale of KOMZIFTI

Kura Oncology has received a $135 million milestone payment from Kyowa Kirin following the first US commercial sale of KOMZIFTI™. The payment was triggered under the companies' collaboration and licence agreement. The milestone represents a significant commercial achievement for the partnership between the two pharmaceutical companies. KOMZIFTI has now entered the US market, marking an important step in the drug's commercialisation.

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