Kura Oncology, Inc. reports news on its precision oncology business, including commercialization of KOMZIFTI™ (ziftomenib), an FDA-approved once-daily oral menin inhibitor for adults with relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia. Company updates also cover small-molecule drug candidates designed to target cancer signaling pathways across hematologic malignancies and solid tumors.
Recurring KURA developments include financial results, corporate updates, clinical data presentations, collaboration-related milestones, healthcare conference participation and Nasdaq inducement grants. News on darlifarnib (KO-2806) follows the company’s farnesyl transferase inhibitor program, including studies in combination with cabozantinib for clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Kura Oncology (KURA) granted stock options covering 128,250 common shares to new employees on October 1, 2026, as employment inducements.
The awards went to nine employees under the amended 2023 Inducement Option Plan and were approved under Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4). The exercise price is $10.65 per share, matching the stock’s closing price on the grant date. Options vest over four years: 25% on the first anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date, followed by monthly vesting of the balance over 36 months. Vesting requires continued service through each applicable vesting date.
Kura Oncology (KURA) and Caspian Therapeutics presented preclinical KO-7246 diabetes findings at the EASD meeting in Milan.
In a Type 1 diabetes rat model, KO-7246 normalized fasting glucose in a majority of animals. Among responders, pancreatic islets regenerated to 40-90% of healthy-control levels by Day 56. Normal glucose levels and increased C-peptide persisted for at least one month after treatment stopped. In a Type 2 diabetes mouse model, β-cell mass rose 3.4-fold, and combining KO-7246 with semaglutide enhanced activity. Human-islet experiments showed increased β-cell proliferation and improved insulin release in response to glucose. KO-7246 is in IND-enabling development; Caspian plans a Phase 1 evaluation.
Kura Oncology (KURA) has launched Caspian Therapeutics, a separately financed subsidiary focused on small‑molecule menin inhibitors for diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases, backed by a $50 million financing led by BVF Partners with participation from the T1D Fund, Invus, Montanova, Eli Lilly and Company, Kura and others.
Caspian is built around KO‑7246, a next‑generation, highly selective menin inhibitor optimized for chronic metabolic use, plus related IP contributed by Kura. The financing is expected to fund KO‑7246 through IND‑enabling development and initial clinical proof of concept in diabetes and to support a second development candidate. Kura will retain approximately half of Caspian on a fully diluted basis, hold board representation, and provide services under an intercompany agreement, while remaining focused on oncology. Preclinical KO‑7246 data, showing selective β‑cell expansion and improved glycemic control in multiple diabetes models, will be presented orally at the EASD 2026 meeting.
Kura Oncology (KURA) appointed Jennifer Fulk as Chief Financial Officer, effective September 8, 2026. She joins the senior leadership team and will report to President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman Troy Wilson.
Fulk has more than 20 years of financial and operating leadership experience in biopharmaceuticals and high‑growth public companies. Her background includes over 15 years at Eli Lilly in roles spanning commercial finance, R&D, investor relations, treasury and global operations. She later served as CFO of Talkspace and Soleno Therapeutics, and COO/CFO of 120Water.
At Lilly, she was CFO of the U.S. Bio‑Medicines business with P&L responsibility for a $2.5 billion neuroscience and immunology franchise and provided financial leadership for an annual oncology R&D portfolio of approximately $1 billion.
Kura Oncology (KURA) granted inducement stock options for 48,450 shares to four new employees on September 1, 2026, under its 2023 Inducement Option Plan. The awards were approved by the Board’s Compensation Committee as inducements to employment in line with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
Each option has an exercise price of $12.89 per share, equal to the closing price on the grant date, and vests over four years: 25% after one year, with the remaining shares vesting monthly over the following 36 months, subject to continued service. The options are governed by the 2023 Inducement Option Plan and individual option agreements. Kura develops precision oncology medicines, including FDA-approved KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib) for relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia.
Kura Oncology (Nasdaq: KURA) announced that management will present at three healthcare investor conferences in September 2026: Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference on September 8 at 3:45 p.m. ET, Cantor Global Healthcare Conference on September 9 at 9:10 a.m. ET, and Morgan Stanley Global Healthcare Conference on September 16 at 7:45 a.m. ET. Live audio webcasts and replays will be available in the Investors section of Kura’s website.
Kura Oncology (Nasdaq: KURA) reported second quarter 2026 results highlighted by the commercial ramp of KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib) and progress across its precision oncology pipeline. KOMZIFTI generated $9.1 million in net product revenue, up 57% quarter over quarter, with approximately 115 new patient starts (+35%) and more than 250 total prescriptions (+59%), achieving a majority share of new patient starts in the R/R NPM1-mutant AML menin inhibitor class.
Total revenue was $20.9 million, including $11.8 million in collaboration revenue, and Kura reported a net loss of $68.3 million. The company ended the quarter with $519.0 million in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and expects, together with $180 million in anticipated Kyowa Kirin collaboration payments, to fund ziftomenib AML development through topline Phase 3 KOMET-017 data expected in 2028. Multiple ziftomenib and darlifarnib clinical readouts are planned over the next 12–18 months.
Kura Oncology (Nasdaq: KURA) reported publication in Blood of a manuscript detailing the discovery and preclinical characterization of ziftomenib (KOMZIFTI), a once-daily oral menin inhibitor approved in 2025 for adult patients with relapsed or refractory NPM1‑mutated AML without satisfactory alternatives.
The paper describes ziftomenib’s differentiated menin binding profile, potent and selective inhibition of the menin‑KMT2A interaction, robust on‑target activity across KMT2A‑rearranged, NPM1‑mutated and NUP98‑rearranged leukemia models, and its ability to induce leukemia regression and extend survival in xenograft and patient‑derived xenograft models.
Researchers also show that ziftomenib retains activity against certain treatment‑emergent MEN1 resistance mutations where other menin inhibitors did not; in the KOMET‑001 trial, MEN1‑M327I emerged in 1 of 29 evaluable patients. Kura continues to develop ziftomenib in combinations across molecularly defined AML populations and other oncology indications, while highlighting boxed warnings and safety information from the U.S. prescribing label.
Kura Oncology (Nasdaq: KURA) announced that on August 3, 2026, its Board Compensation Committee granted inducement awards of nonstatutory stock options to purchase 104,500 shares of common stock to six new employees under the 2023 Inducement Option Plan, as amended.
The options have an exercise price of $9.19 per share, equal to the August 3, 2026 closing price, and vest over four years: 25% after one year and the remaining shares monthly over the following 36 months, subject to continued service. The awards were approved as employment inducements in accordance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5635(c)(4).
Kura Oncology (Nasdaq: KURA) will report its second quarter 2026 financial results after the close of U.S. financial markets on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Management will host a webcast and conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT to discuss results and provide a corporate update.
The live webcast and archived replay will be available on Kura’s website under the Investors > Events and Presentations section. Kura is a biopharmaceutical company focused on precision medicines for cancer, including KOMZIFTI (ziftomenib), an FDA-approved, once-daily oral menin inhibitor for adults with relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutated acute myeloid leukemia.