On August 10, 2016 Kura Oncology, Inc., (NASDAQ:KURA) a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company committed to realizing the promise of precision medicines for the treatment of cancer, reported second quarter 2016 financial results and recent business highlights (Press release, Kura Oncology, AUG 10, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2194722 [SID:1234514478]). In the company’s Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant solid tumors, positive clinical activity, including objective responses, has been observed in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and patients with salivary gland cancer. Based on these responses, enrollment will be expanded to an additional seven patients.
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"We are encouraged by the promising activity observed in patients with HRAS mutant solid tumors that supports the potential use of tipifarnib as a single agent to inhibit HRAS-mediated activation of the MAPK pathway to produce therapeutic responses," said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and CEO of Kura Oncology. "There are currently no approved treatments that specifically target HRAS mutations, and the activity we have seen in patients with HRAS mutant head and neck squamous cell carcinomas is particularly exciting. I am pleased with Kura’s progress to date in 2016 and look forward to providing additional updates on our ongoing activities as the year continues to unfold."
Update on Phase 2 Clinical Trial in HRAS Mutant Solid Tumors
Kura Oncology’s Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant solid tumors was designed to initially enroll two cohorts of 11 patients each with HRAS mutations, with the first cohort comprising patients with thyroid cancers and the second comprising patients with non-hematologic malignancies other than thyroid cancer. The primary objective of the study is to investigate the antitumor activity of tipifarnib in terms of objective response rate. Secondary objectives include progression-free survival, duration of response and safety. Per the protocol, two objective responses are required from the first 11 evaluable patients in a cohort in order to proceed to the second stage and enroll an additional seven patients.
In the second cohort, 11 evaluable patients have been enrolled to date with the most common histologies comprising salivary gland tumors (5 patients) and head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (3 patients).
Among the three patients with HRAS mutant head and neck squamous cell cancer, two patients have had confirmed partial responses (PR), and disease stabilization has been observed in the third patient. The two patients with PR’s have been on study for more than 12 and 5 months, and responses were seen after 6 and 2 cycles of treatment, respectively. The third patient demonstrated disease stabilization for 7 months.
No objective responses have been observed in patients with salivary gland tumors; however, 3 of 5 salivary gland cancer patients experienced disease stabilization beyond 6 months (>6, 9 and >11 months).
The first cohort of the Phase 2 trial, which consists of patients with thyroid cancers with HRAS mutations, continues enrolling.
Upcoming Clinical and Preclinical Milestones for Kura Oncology Programs
Initiation of a Phase 2 clinical trial for tipifarnib in patients with CMML is planned in the second half of 2016.
IND submission for ERK inhibitor, KO-947, is anticipated in the second half of 2016.
Nomination of a development candidate for the menin-MLL program is anticipated in the second half of 2016.
Financial Results for the Second Quarter 2016
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $80.1 million as of June 30, 2016, compared with $85.7 million as of December 31, 2015. Management expects that current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund current operations into 2018.
Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2016 were $4.9 million, compared to $4.4 million for the second quarter of 2015.
General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2016 were $1.9 million, compared to $1.5 million for the second quarter of 2015.
Net loss for the second quarter of 2016 was $6.7 million, or $0.36 per share, compared to a net loss of $5.6 million, or $0.54 per share, for the second quarter of 2015.
During the second quarter of 2016, as previously disclosed, Kura Oncology put in place a $20.0 million term loan facility, of which $7.5 million has been drawn to date.