On August 6, 2020 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 2020 financial results and provided a corporate update (Press release, Kura Oncology, AUG 6, 2020, View Source [SID1234563043]).
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"Last quarter we implemented a number of strategic measures to focus on our two major development pillars: tipifarnib in HRAS-dependent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and KO-539 in acute myeloid leukemia (AML)," said Troy Wilson, Ph.D., J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Kura Oncology. "We believe tipifarnib and KO-539 provide opportunities to address large proportions of head and neck cancers and acute leukemias, respectively. Now, following a successful public offering this past quarter, we are well-positioned to advance each of these programs toward important upcoming catalysts."
Corporate Update
Encouraging progress in Phase 1/2A trial of menin inhibitor, KO-539 – KO-539 is a potent and small molecule inhibitor of the menin-KMT2A(MLL) protein-protein interaction, with the potential to target at least 35% of patients with AML. A Phase 1/2A clinical trial of KO-539 in patients with relapsed/refractory AML (KOMET-001) continues in dose escalation. Kura remains focused on its goal of reaching a recommended Phase 2 dose and schedule, after which it intends to open expansion cohorts in NPM1-mutant and KMT2A(MLL)-rearranged AML – selected patient populations where KO‑539 has the potential to demonstrate increased clinical benefit. The Company intends to submit an abstract for preliminary data presentation of the KO-539 program at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in December 2020, and continues to add clinical sites to the trial in anticipation of moving into the expansion cohorts.
Updated data from Phase 2 trial of tipifarnib in HRAS mutant HNSCC – Kura reported updated clinical outcome data from a Phase 2 clinical trial of tipifarnib in patients with recurrent or metastatic HRAS mutant HNSCC (RUN-HN) at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Virtual Scientific Program in May 2020. The data showed a median overall survival of 15.4 months, median progression-free survival of 5.9 months and an overall response rate of 50% among the 18 evaluable patients. Outcomes for three FDA-approved therapies for HNSCC are poor, with reported median OS of 5-8 months, PFS of 2-3 months and ORR of 13-16% in the second line. These data further support the Company’s efforts in HRAS mutant HNSCC, a disease of high unmet need.
Expanded enrollment in registration-directed trial of tipifarnib – Kura has amended its ongoing registration-directed trial of tipifarnib (AIM-HN) to enroll all recurrent or metastatic HNSCC patients with HRAS mutations, regardless of variant allele frequency, expanding the proportion of patients who are being treated in the trial. The primary outcome measure for AIM-HN remains overall response rate in patients with high HRAS mutant variant allele frequency. The amendment enables the Company to assess the potential clinical benefit of tipifarnib in the overall HRAS mutant HNSCC population as well.
Expansion opportunity for tipifarnib in HRAS and PI3K dependent tumors – Based upon the unmet need and encouraging preclinical data, Kura is prioritizing the clinical development of tipifarnib in combination with a PI3K alpha inhibitor as a strategy to treat HNSCC patients whose tumors overexpress the HRAS protein, as well as those with PI3K dependent tumors. These patients may represent significant subsets of HNSCC patients with distinct biology that may be targeted by tipifarnib, which is supported by observed activity in multiple models and in each of these subsets in preclinical studies. The Company believes that the total addressable population for tipifarnib may be as high as 50% of HNSCC.
Financial Results
Research and development expenses for the second quarter of 2020 were $13.7 million, compared to $11.4 million for the second quarter of 2019.
General and administrative expenses for the second quarter of 2020 were $7.5 million, compared to $4.5 million for the second quarter of 2019.
Net loss for the second quarter of 2020 was $20.5 million, compared to a net loss of $14.9 million for the second quarter of 2019.
Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $338.9 million as of June 30, 2020, including net proceeds of approximately $134.9 million from a public offering completed in May 2020, compared with $236.9 million as of December 31, 2019.
Management expects that current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments will be sufficient to fund current operations into 2023.
Conference Call and Webcast
Kura’s management will host a webcast and conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET / 1:30 p.m. PT today, August 6, 2020, to discuss the financial results for the second quarter 2020 and provide a corporate update. The live call may be accessed by dialing (866) 278-7953 for domestic callers and +1 (323) 347-3281 for international callers and entering the conference code: 1697775. A live webcast of the call will be available from the Investors and Media section of the Company’s website at www.kuraoncology.com, and will be archived there for 30 days.