Kura Oncology and Kyowa Kirin Announce FDA Acceptance and Priority Review of New Drug Application for Ziftomenib in Adults with Relapsed or Refractory NPM1-Mutant AML
- FDA granted Priority Review for ziftomenib NDA, potentially expediting the approval process
- Phase 2 KOMET-001 trial met its primary endpoint with statistical significance
- Favorable safety profile with only 3% treatment-related discontinuations
- Multiple FDA designations received: Breakthrough Therapy, Fast Track, and Orphan Drug
- Potential to be first-in-class menin inhibitor for NPM1-mutant AML treatment
- None.
Insights
FDA acceptance of ziftomenib's NDA with priority review significantly advances Kura's potential first-in-class menin inhibitor for NPM1-mutant AML.
The FDA's acceptance of Kura Oncology's New Drug Application for ziftomenib with Priority Review represents a significant regulatory milestone with substantial implications. The November 30, 2025 PDUFA date accelerates the potential market entry by four months compared to standard review, reflecting the FDA's recognition of ziftomenib's promising clinical profile.
The application is supported by the Phase 2 KOMET-001 trial, which achieved statistical significance for its primary endpoint of complete remission (CR) plus CR with partial hematological recovery (CRh). Particularly noteworthy is the safety profile, with only 3% treatment-related discontinuations and limited myelosuppression—a crucial advantage in AML therapy where treatment toxicity often limits clinical utility.
Ziftomenib's designation as the only investigational therapy with Breakthrough Therapy Designation for NPM1-mutant AML underscores its potential clinical impact. The triple regulatory designations (Breakthrough, Fast Track, and Orphan Drug) highlight the recognized unmet need and ziftomenib's promising efficacy.
As a menin inhibitor, ziftomenib targets a specific molecular pathway critical in NPM1-mutant AML, representing a precision medicine approach. The NPM1 mutation occurs in approximately 30% of AML cases and is associated with distinct clinical characteristics. If approved, ziftomenib would establish a new therapeutic class for AML treatment, potentially changing treatment paradigms for this genetic subset of patients who currently face limited options and poor prognosis after relapse.
– New Drug Application based on positive results from the Phase 2 KOMET-001 trial –
– FDA assigns a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of November 30, 2025 –
– Potential first approval of a menin inhibitor for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML with an NPM1 mutation –
SAN DIEGO and TOKYO, June 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kura Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: KURA, “Kura”) and Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4151, “Kyowa Kirin”) today announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted Kura’s New Drug Application (NDA) seeking full approval for ziftomenib as a treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with a nucleophosmin 1 (NPM1) mutation. The application has been granted Priority Review and assigned a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target action date of November 30, 2025.
“The FDA’s acceptance of our New Drug Application marks a significant milestone for Kura and Kyowa Kirin and, more importantly, for patients living with this genetic subset of AML, who face an aggressive form of the disease with few treatment options,” said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kura Oncology. “This achievement reflects the strength of the clinical data for ziftomenib as well as the incredible commitment of our teams. Along with our partners at Kyowa Kirin, we look forward to continuing to work closely with the FDA throughout the review process and to prepare for the anticipated launch of this treatment, which holds potential to meaningfully impact the lives of patients and their families.”
The NDA is based on results from the Phase 2 KOMET-001 registrational trial in R/R NPM1-mutant (NPM1-m) AML (NCT #04067336). The KOMET-001 trial achieved its primary endpoint of complete remission (CR) plus CR with partial hematological recovery (CRh) and the primary endpoint was statistically significant. Ziftomenib was well‑tolerated with limited myelosuppression and
“Adult R/R NPM1-m AML patients face a significantly poor prognosis, highlighting the urgent need for innovative treatment options that can improve their outcomes,” said Takeyoshi Yamashita, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Kyowa Kirin. “The acceptance of this NDA is a crucial step in our ongoing efforts to explore and evaluate various therapeutic strategies for AML through our comprehensive clinical trials. Our dedicated teams at Kyowa Kirin and Kura are fully committed to working tirelessly to ensure that, once approved, ziftomenib is made available to AML patients as quickly as possible. We recognize the importance of this endeavor and are excited about the possibility of making a meaningful impact on the lives of those affected by this challenging disease.”
The KOMET-001 registration-directed trial is designed to assess evidence of clinical activity, safety and tolerability of ziftomenib, the only investigational therapy to receive Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) from the FDA for treatment of R/R NPM1-mutant AML. In addition to BTD, ziftomenib has received Fast Track and Orphan Drug Designations. The full data analyses from the KOMET-001 trial of ziftomenib in R/R NPM1-m AML patients have been selected for oral presentation on Monday, June 2nd at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, and an encore presentation is planned at the 2025 European Hematology Association (EHA) Congress.
About NPM1-Mutant AML
AML is the most common acute leukemia in adults and begins when the bone marrow makes abnormal myeloblasts (white blood cells), red blood cells or platelets. Despite the many available treatments for AML, prognosis for patients remains poor and a high unmet need remains. The menin pathway is considered a driver for multiple genetic alterations of the disease, of which NPM1 mutations are among the most common, representing approximately
About Ziftomenib
Ziftomenib is a potent and selective, oral, investigational menin inhibitor currently in development for the treatment of genetically defined AML patients with high unmet need. In April 2024, ziftomenib received BTD from the FDA for the treatment of adult patients with R/R AML with an NPM1 mutation based on data from Kura’s KOMET-001 clinical trial. Additional information about clinical trials for ziftomenib can be found at www.kuraoncology.com/clinical-trials/#ziftomenib.
About Kura Oncology
Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer. The Company’s pipeline consists of small molecule drug candidates designed to target cancer signaling pathways. In November 2024, Kura Oncology entered into a global strategic collaboration agreement with Kyowa Kirin to develop and commercialize ziftomenib, a menin inhibitor, for AML and other hematologic malignancies. Enrollment in KOMET-001, a Phase 2 registration-directed trial of ziftomenib in R/R NPM1-m AML, has been completed, and in the second quarter of 2025, the companies announced submission of an NDA for ziftomenib for the treatment of adult patients with R/R NPM1-m AML. Kura and Kyowa Kirin are conducting a series of clinical trials to evaluate ziftomenib in combination with current standards of care in newly diagnosed and R/R NPM1-m and KMT2A-rearranged AML. KO-2806, a next-generation farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI), is being evaluated in a Phase 1 dose-escalation trial (FIT-001) as a monotherapy and in combination with targeted therapies for patients with various solid tumors. Tipifarnib, a potent and selective FTI, is currently in a Phase 1/2 trial (KURRENT-HN) in combination with alpelisib for patients with PIK3CA-dependent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. For additional information, please visit Kura’s website at https://kuraoncology.com/ and follow us 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.
Kura Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, the efficacy, safety and therapeutic potential of ziftomenib; the potential for ziftomenib to obtain FDA approval for the treatment of patients with NPM1-m AML, and the anticipated timing of such FDA approval; and the potential launch of ziftomenib. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements include the risk that Kura may not be able to successfully demonstrate the safety and/or efficacy of its product candidates, including ziftomenib; the risk that Kura may not obtain approval to market its product candidates, including ziftomenib, or that such approval may be delayed; the risk that the collaboration with Kyowa Kirin is unsuccessful; and other risks associated with the process of discovering, developing and commercializing drugs that are safe and effective for use as human therapeutics, and in the endeavor of building a business around such drugs. You are urged to consider statements that include the words “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “promise,” “potential,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “continues,” “designed,” “goal,” or the negative of those words or other comparable words to be uncertain and forward-looking. For a further list and description of the risks and uncertainties the Company faces, please refer to the Company's periodic and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available at www.sec.gov. Such forward-looking statements are current only as of the date they are made, and Kura assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Kura Contacts
Investors:
Patti Bank
Managing Director
(415) 513-1284
patti.bank@icrhealthcare.com
Media:
media@kuraoncology.com
Kyowa Kirin Contacts
Investors:
Ryohei Kawai
ir@kyowakirin.com
Media, Global:
Wataru Suzuki
media@kyowakirin.com
FAQ
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