Kura Oncology, Inc.
KURA evidence brief
What we can confirm
What it means
What to watch
Prepared research question
What matters most for KURA—catalysts, financial risk and supporting evidence?
Traceable citations · Unknowns marked
BioSniper AI · KURA
Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing precision oncology therapies, with its lead candidate ziftomenib targeting NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a strategic collaboration with Kyowa Kirin.
Key risk: Regulatory approval uncertainty
BioSniper Score
Based on 6 of 6 signals
Market Cap
$1.13B
Cash Runway
24.4 moLead Asset
darlifarnib (Phase 1)Next Catalyst
Phase3_Topline · Nov 1, 2031Financial data as of Jun 30, 2026.
Tracking 5 pipeline candidates · 13 clinical trials · 2 catalysts · 1 FDA decision for Kura Oncology, Inc..
Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing precision oncology therapies, with its lead candidate ziftomenib targeting NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a strategic collaboration with Kyowa Kirin.
- Submitted an NDA for ziftomenib for relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant AML [sec · filed 2025-04-11].
- Entered a global strategic collaboration with Kyowa Kirin to develop and commercialize ziftomenib in acute leukemias [sec · filed 2025-04-11].
- Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $580.8 million as of March 31, 2026, expected to fund operations into Q4 2027 [sec_mda · as of 2026-05-12].
- Also developing KO-2806, a PI3 kinase alpha inhibitor, for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [sec · filed 2025-04-11].
- As of June 30, 2026, the company reported total revenue of $20.9M and a net loss of -$68.3M [sec].
What works
- Ziftomenib received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for relapsed/refractory NPM1-mutant AML, supporting accelerated regulatory progress [sec · filed 2025-04-11].
- The Kyowa Kirin collaboration provides up to $180 million in anticipated payments, extending the company's cash runway through key clinical milestones [sec_mda · as of 2026-05-12].
- Cash position of $580.8 million as of March 31, 2026, combined with collaboration funding, is expected to support the ziftomenib AML program through topline results from KOMET-017 [sec_mda · as of 2026-05-12].
What to weigh
- The company has a history of net losses, reporting a net loss of -$68.3M for the period ending June 30, 2026 [sec].
- Ziftomenib has not yet received FDA approval, and there is risk that later-stage trials may not demonstrate safety or efficacy [sec · filed 2025-06-18].
- The company will need substantial additional funding to continue operations if collaboration payments or capital raises are not secured [sec_mda · as of 2026-03-05].
From the filings
Quoted directly from source documents.
NDA submission for ziftomenib in R/R NPM1-m AML
“Submitted NDA for ziftomenib for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory AML with an NPM1 mutation to the FDA”
SEC filings · April 11, 2025
Strategic collaboration with Kyowa Kirin
“Entered into global strategic collaboration with Kyowa Kirin to develop and commercialize ziftomenib in acute leukemias”
SEC filings · April 11, 2025
Cash position and runway
“As of March 31, 2026, we had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $580.8 million. We believe that our cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of March 31, 2026 will be sufficient to fund our current operating plan into the fourth quarter of 2027.”
SEC MD&A · May 12, 2026
Breakthrough Therapy Designation for ziftomenib
“securing Breakthrough Therapy Designation for ziftomenib in patients with relapsed or refractory NPM1-mutant AML”
SEC filings · April 11, 2025
Catalyst timeline
- 2031-11-01 · Phase 3 Topline: Phase 3 Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Studies Assessing Ziftomenib in Combination — Topline data from Phase 3 trials of ziftomenib in combination therapy are expected, which will inform efficacy and safety for potential label expansion.
- 2044-07-16 · Patent/Exclusivity Expiry: KOMZIFTI — Patent or exclusivity protection for KOMZIFTI is set to expire, which could open the market to generic competition.
Risks & what to watch (4)›
Key risks
- Regulatory approval uncertainty — Ziftomenib NDA is under FDA review; approval is not guaranteed and may be delayed or denied [sec · filed 2025-06-18].
- Clinical trial risks — Promising early results may not replicate in later-stage trials, leading to failure to meet endpoints [sec · filed 2025-06-18].
- Need for additional capital — Ongoing operations require substantial funding; failure to raise capital could force program reductions [sec_mda · as of 2026-03-05].
- Dependence on collaboration — Kyowa Kirin partnership is critical for development and commercialization; partner satisfaction is a risk factor [sec · filed 2025-04-11].
What to watch
- FDA decision on the NDA for ziftomenib in R/R NPM1-mutant AML [sec · filed 2025-04-11].
- Topline results from the KOMET-017 study, anticipated in 2028 [sec_mda · as of 2026-05-12].
- Progress of the KO-2806 program in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma [sec · filed 2025-04-11].
- Receipt of the $180 million in milestone payments from Kyowa Kirin [sec_mda · as of 2026-05-12].
Sources: SEC filings · SEC MD&A · Generated August 29, 2026 · How we verify sources →
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Evidence & data
Score breakdownBased on 6 of 6 signals · derived from public data
24.4 months
D/E 11.14 · 0% dilution
Lead: Approved
5 candidates
2 upcoming, next in ~1889d
1 buy · 6 sells (180d)
Runway
Catalysts
Pipeline
Regulatory
Financials
Institutional Holdings
Source: SEC Form 13F · as of Mar 2026Institutional holders
218
Total value held
$718.3M
| Holder | Shares | Value |
|---|---|---|
| blackrock, inc. | 9,637,531 | $78.4M |
| suvretta capital management, llc | 8,575,422 | $69.7M |
| bvf inc/il | 8,445,769 | $68.7M |
| vanguard capital management llc | 7,571,370 | $61.6M |
| state street corp | 4,511,891 | $36.7M |
| armistice capital, llc | 3,736,000 | $30.4M |
| prosight management, lp | 3,356,700 | $27.3M |
| deep track capital, lp | 2,643,542 | $21.5M |
| aqr capital management llc | 2,124,480 | $17.3M |
| geode capital management, llc | 2,034,276 | $16.5M |
Showing top 10 of 218 institutional holders of Kura Oncology, Inc.. Open the full 13F history after sign-in.
Short Interest
as of May 21, 2026- % of float
- 17.8%
- Days to cover
- 11.3
- Shares short
- 15,431,271
- Daily short volume
- -
Short percent of float and days-to-cover reflect reported short positioning. Daily short volume is the exchange-reported short share of a single day's trading volume and is noisier. See the most-shorted biotech ranking →
KURA short interestGovernance
Frequently asked questions
What is the AI investment thesis for Kura Oncology, Inc.?
Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing precision oncology therapies, with its lead candidate ziftomenib targeting NPM1-mutant acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and a strategic collaboration with Kyowa Kirin.
What is Kura Oncology, Inc.'s lead drug candidate?
Kura Oncology, Inc.'s most advanced tracked candidate is darlifarnib (Phase 1) for Solid Tumors With HRAS Alterations.
What is Kura Oncology, Inc.'s next catalyst?
Kura Oncology, Inc.'s next tracked catalyst is a Phase3_Topline event — "Phase 3 Topline: Phase 3 Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Studies Assessing Ziftomenib in Combination Wit" — expected November 1, 2031.
Who is the CEO of Kura Oncology, Inc.?
Dr. Troy Edward Wilson J.D., Ph.D. is the chief executive officer of Kura Oncology, Inc. (KURA).
Where is Kura Oncology, Inc. headquartered?
Kura Oncology, Inc. (KURA) is headquartered in San Diego, CA, United States.
The AI overview and BioSniper Score are neutral, data-derived signals built from public SEC filings, ClinicalTrials.gov and FDA records — not investment advice.